THE THORACIC AND LUMBAR SPINE INJURIES SEEN AT CHU-HJRA MADAGASCAR

Abstract

Thoracolumbar spine injury is a frequent and serious lesion with functional prognosis. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological-clinical profile and the therapeutic aspects of thoracic and lumbar spine injuries in Madagascar. This was a retrospective, single centered 3-years study of 98 cases of thoracic and/or lumbar spine trauma hospitalized and managed in the neurosurgery department at Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Antananarivo Madagascar University Hospital center. During the targeted period, 98 trauma cases were studied, of which 24.39% of the traumatized were between 21 and 30 years old with a clear male predominance of 80.48% (sex ratio 4.1). Etiology is dominated by a drop in 36.72% of cases. It was part of a polytrauma that included head trauma in 58.53%. Clinically, 39.02% of the patients were tetraplegic and the standard radiograph represented the requested radiological tool in 82.92%. The mortality rate was 21.95%. Thoracic and lumbar spine injuries are serious and several Frankel A type neurological deficits are usually irreversible despite rapid management