title: Profile and outcome of non-traumatic paraplegia in Kano, northwestern Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to identify the clinical and radiological profile of non-traumatic paraplegia and the various etiologies associated with the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the clinical and radiological presentations of adult patients presenting with non-traumatic paraplegia managed at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Murtala Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, from June 2006 to November 2009 was carried out. Patients underwent a detailed clinical evaluation followed by laboratory investigation and neuroimaging studies and were followed up for 9 months to asses outcome and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  98 patients with non-traumatic paraplegia consisting of 71 males and 27 females (M:F: 5:2) were seen. The age range of the patients was between 16 and 76 years, with a mean age of 40 years (SD = 15.3) years; 54 (55%) of the patients presented after 2 months of the onset of paraplegia. The commonest symptoms were weakness of the lower limbs (100%), loss of sensation (55%), sphincteric disturbance (50%) radicular pain and paresthesia (38.4%), back pain (21.4%) and erectile dysfunction (40%). All the patients had X-ray of the spine; 26.3% had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) spine. The commonest etiological factors were tuberculosis (TB) (44.4%), transverse myelitis (13.1%), Guillain-Barre syndrome (9.1%), metastatic spinal disease (4%), and HIV myelopathy (4%). However, the cause could not be identified in 14 (14%) of the patients. The commonest site of affectation in those with TB spine was lower thoracic (53.8%) and upper lumbar (23.1%) vertebrae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical profile of non-traumatic paraplegia in Kano, northwestern Nigeria, is similar to that reported elsewhere in Africa, with spinal tuberculosis and transverse myelitis accounting for over half the cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. drlukmanowolabi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Owolabi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Samaila
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents