Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Peculiarities of Spinal Trauma in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience of Senegal

Abstract

Introduction: Spinal trauma in children is rare, accounting for 1 and 10% of all spinal traumas. They constitute an entity in their own right due to the injuries they cause. Difficulties (diagnostic) and modalities (therapeutic), different from those of adults the growth of children. The lack of studies in Sub-Saharan Africa leads us to carry out this study focused on the traumatic spine of the child. Patients and Methods: Over a period of 8 and a half years from January 2012 to June 2020, we retrospectively studied 44 cases involving 4 Senegalese hospitals, 3 of which were in the capital and 1 in the province, including children up to the age of 16 who had suffered spinal trauma. Results: Forty-four children were retained, a frequency of 7.11%, with an average age of 10.5 years; sex ratio: 1.6. The most frequent aetiologies were: falls (from trees, from buildings): 41%; play accidents and accidents on public roads: 20.4% each. The average consultation time was 31.3 days. 34% of the patients were ASIA E patients. The majority of patients had performed a spine CT scan as an imaging examination, i.e. 95.4%. The most common site of injury was cervical with 61.3%. The most frequent lesions were: fractures, fracture-luxations and dislocations with 27.3%, 25% and 25% respectively. Five patients had associated lesions, i.e. 11.3% (4 head traumas, 9.1% and 1 pelvic trauma, 1.9). Most of the treatment was surgical (43% orthopaedic, 38.6%) and functional (16%). The post-therapy neurological evaluation (ASIA - backward step) was: A: 25%; B: 2.3%; C: 7%; D: 13.7%; E: 52.3%. We noted 3 deaths and 4 patients were re-operated. There were no consolidation complications such as pseudoarthrosis. Conclusion: Trauma to the spine in children, like any bone trauma, responds well to orthopaedic treatment. Deaths are often related to upper cervical spine injuries or occur in the context of polytrauma. Follow-up should be carried out over several years to detect possible complications at an early stage. Delays in treatment due to the difficulties of punctual medicalised transport remain the challenge to be met in our environment.