[Thoracic spinal stenosis. Clinical and surgical management. Study of 5 cases observed in the Abidjan department of Neurosurgery].
BACKGROUND
Spinal cord compression resulting from thoracic spinal stenosis is relatively frequent in Japan but rare in Europe and little know in Africa.


OBJECTIVE
We report five cases of thoracic myelopathy caused by thoracic stenosis diagnosed in black African people.


METHODS
This was a retrospective observational study of patients treated in the Abidjan department of Neurosurgery from 01.01.1996 to 31.12.1998. The spinal cord compression resulting from thoracic spinal stenosis was confirmed by myelography or myeloscan. The Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) score was used to evaluate patient outcome.


RESULTS
All of these patients were black Africans. The four men and one woman were aged 55, 47, 53, 52, and 60 years. The clinical presentation of thoracic spinal cord compression was confirmed by myelography in five patients and by myeloscan in four. These investigations were useful for guiding surgical treatment. Outcome was favorable in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Signs of thoracic spinal cord compression in adults should suggest the diagnosis of thoracic spinal stenosis.
Service de Neurochirurgie, CHU de Yopougon, 21 BP 632, Abidjan 21, République de Côte d'Ivoire. ndriokad@yahoo.fr
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N'Dri Oka
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Boni
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Varlet
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Ba Zeze
D044383:Black People; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009192:Myelography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome