Profile of spinal injuries in Lagos, Nigeria.
METHODS
Retrospective study.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the pattern and outcome of spinal cord injuries in Lagos, Nigeria.


METHODS
Nigeria, Lagos.


METHODS
This retrospective review of cases was conducted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, between January 1992 and December 2006.


RESULTS
A total of 468 cases of spinal cord injury over the 15-year period were studied. Three hundred and twelve of them (66.2%) were aged 40 years and below, with the peak age incidence as 21-30 years. There were 328 males (70.1%) and 140 females (29.9%) showing a male to female ratio of 2.34:1. Road traffic accident accounted for 362 (77.4%) patients. At presentation, 430 (91.9%) of the injuries were of ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) class A. Lumbar spine was affected in 278 (59.4%) of patients, whereas cervical spine accounted for 142 (30.3%). The most frequently seen complication was bedsore, seen in 163 (59.9%) of 272 patients that had complications. On discharge, 230 patients (49.1%) were in ASIA class A and 34 (7.5%) in ASIA E. Eighty-two patients (17.5%) died.


CONCLUSIONS
Spinal injuries in Lagos occurred mostly in young adult males affecting mainly the lumbar spine. Traffic-related incidents were the leading cause and bedsore the most common complication.
Obalum
D C
DC
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL)/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. obalum1@yahoo.com
Giwa
S O
SO
Adekoya-Cole
T O
TO
Enweluzo
G O
GO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult