Maxillofacial Trauma in Ibadan/ Nigeria revisited: Challenges to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery trainees. Which way forward?

Abstract

In the 1980’s, the West African College of Surgeons and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria granted accreditation status to some major teaching hospitals in the West African Sub-region and Nigeria for the training of qualified doctors and dental surgeons. The objective was to produce specialists that would be able to meet the health needs of the country and the West African subregion as a whole. Before this time, specialists in Nigeria and other developed parts in the world like United Kingdom, Europe and United States of America. At the inception of the training programmes, the training institutions were well funded and had good infrastructures. The cost of medical care was affordable to the average patient and there were dedicated medical personnel. The number of patients was adequate for the training of the resident doctors at the end of the resident programme, it was certain that the trainee had obtained a sound training in the chosen specialty.

However, currently, many factors are militating against the training of residents. These economic, political and social factors have negative effects on the training of residents and the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is not unaffected. The training of a resident in the management of maxillofacial injuries is a very important aspect of the training of a trainer maxillofacial surgeon. There is no doubt that early and exact management of maxillofacial injuries is very essential because of the location of these injuries because if improperly managed could lead to serious emotional and socio-psychological problem for the patient. In this article, the history of the residency programme in Nigeria and the West Africa, the current challenges faced with the training of a resident in maxillofacial traumatology are highlighted. The possible solutions to the problems are enumerated.