A 9 Year Retrospective Analysis of Veterinary Surgical Cases in Selected Cities of North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Veterinary medical records are essential for evaluating surgical procedures and predicting outcomes. This study analyzed veterinary surgical records over a nine-year period (2015–2024) from Sokoto, Birnin-Kebbi, and Gusau in North-Western Nigeria. A total of 6,088 surgical case records were reviewed from government-owned and registered veterinary hospitals and clinics. Surgical cases were categorized into cosmetic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) procedures. Data were analyzed by year, quarter, month, species, sex, and age. Surgical burden peaked in Sokoto in 2017 and in Birnin-Kebbi and Gusau in 2023. The first quarter consistently recorded the highest caseload, particularly in January and February, while the second quarter especially May had the lowest. Musculoskeletal surgeries were the most common (67.08%), while ENT surgeries were the least (1.12%). Ovine species predominated, whereas no surgical cases were recorded in porcine species. More females (46.16%) than males underwent surgery, with 12% of records had no gender data. Adult animals accounted for 55.29% of surgical patients. Pre-anaesthetic assessments were absent in 98.28% of cases, and anaesthetic protocols were unrecorded in 93.63%. post-operative care was only documented in 93.18% of cases. This study provides reference data on the prevalence of profiled surgical conditions and also highlights the urgent need to employ electronic medical records keeping system, standardized protocols, and improved documentation practices through staff training and targeted intervention strategies in veterinary healthcare in the region.