Profile and outcome of non-traumatic paraplegia in Kano, northwestern Nigeria

Owolabi, LF; Aliyu, Ibrahim; Samaila, AA

doi:10.4103/1596-3519.82062

Cited by 17 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Among individuals presenting with non-traumatic myelopathy, there was male preponderance and the average age at presentation increased over time, from an average age in the third decade in the 1970s ( 11 , 12 ) to the fourth decade in the 1990s and 2000s ( 7 , 16 ). HIV-infected individuals with non-traumatic myelopathy were younger than HIV-negative patients ( 22 , 23 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There was a striking delay from symptom onset to presentation for clinical care in most studies; for example, only 53–68% of patients in South Africa presented within 6 weeks of onset ( 22 ). In Tanzania, the mean delay was 8 weeks ( 12 ), while in Nigeria and Ethiopia approximately 50% of the patients presented between 8 and 16 weeks after symptom onset ( 4 , 7 , 9 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chest X-rays were routinely done in five studies ( 4 , 9 , 12 , 15 , 22 ). Serum biochemistry was declared done in five studies ( 5 , 7 , 11 , 15 , 22 ) . VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test; ESR, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate; HIV abs, HIV antibody assays; CSF, Cerebral spinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; CT, computed tomography.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This condition is thought to be more common in Africa than in Europe ( 3 ). In Sub-Saharan Africa, non-traumatic myelopathy is associated with a high morbidity (about 50% persistent disability) and mortality (around 10% in admission) and has important economic repercussions for patients and health systems ( 4 – 7 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review of Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Proposed Diagnostic Algorithm for Resource-Limited Settings

et al. 2017

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BackgroundNon-traumatic myelopathy is common in Africa and there are geographic differences in etiology. Clinical management is challenging due to the broad differential diagnosis and the lack of diagnostics. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the most common etiologies of non-traumatic myelopathy in sub-Saharan Africa to inform a regionally appropriate diagnostic algorithm.MethodsWe conducted a systemic review searching Medline and Embase databases using the following search terms: “Non traumatic spinal cord injury” or “myelopathy” with limitations to epidemiology or etiologies and Sub-Saharan Africa. We described the frequencies of the different etiologies and proposed a diagnostic algorithm based on the most common diagnoses.ResultsWe identified 19 studies all performed at tertiary institutions; 15 were retrospective and 13 were published in the era of the HIV epidemic. Compressive bone lesions accounted for more than 48% of the cases; a majority were Pott’s disease and metastatic disease. No diagnosis was identified in up to 30% of cases in most studies; in particular, definitive diagnoses of non-compressive lesions were rare and a majority were clinical diagnoses of transverse myelitis and HIV myelopathy. Age and HIV were major determinants of etiology.ConclusionCompressive myelopathies represent a majority of non-traumatic myelopathies in sub-Saharan Africa, and most were due to Pott’s disease. Non-compressive myelopathies have not been well defined and need further research in Africa. We recommend a standardized approach to management of non-traumatic myelopathy focused on identifying treatable conditions with tests widely available in low-resource settings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Review of Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Proposed Diagnostic Algorithm for Resource-Limited Settings

et al. 2017

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“…This diagnosis was considered less likely in view of rarity of the cervical spine involvement in tuberculosis of the spine [5] and the clinical features that were rather atypical of TBS. The temporal profile of classic foramen magnum syndrome is characterized by the occurrence of unilateral arm sensory and motor deficits, which progress to the ipsilateral leg, then the contralateral leg, and finally contralateral upper extremity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%