M. Fatudimu1, T.A. Akinluyi2, T.K. Hamzat2
1University of Ibadan, College of Medicine, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2University of Ibadan, Department of Physiotherapy, Ibadan, Nigeria
Background: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a life-disrupting condition and can be particularly devastating as it impacts negatively on an individual’s functioning and social participation. To appreciate the impact of spinal cord injury, implement evidence-based policies, programming and practices and optimise allocation of therapeutic resources in providing more effective services to SCI patients, information on epidemiological pattern of SCI over time is required.
Purpose: The required epidemiological studies of pattern of spinal cord injury are scarce especially in African countries like Nigeria. The aim of this hospital-based study was to describe the pattern of spinal cord injury cases managed at the University College Hospital, Ibadan between January, 2008 and December 2017.
Methods: A 10-year review of the pattern of SCI cases in University College Hospital, Ibadan was carried out. Data were extracted from the manual database of the University College Hospital, Ibadan on the cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) seen in the hospital. Information on age at occurrence of injury, gender, marital status, occupation, religion, address, type of spinal cord injury, cause of injury, level of lesion, time of injury and type of care received were obtained from case files of SCI patients seen during this period.
Results: The total number of SCI cases retrieved was 615. The most affected age range was 30-39 years. There was a male dominance of 70%. Most (79%) of reviewed patients were married at time of injury. 65% of reviewed SCI patients indicated Christianity as their religion. Most of the affected patients were unskilled workers. A large proportion of patients seen during this period had their indicated place of residence located within Ibadan. The number of SCI cases increased from 17 in 2008 to 70 in 2017 and the peak period of injury was in the month of December. Majority (69%) had traumatic spinal cord injury with the leading cause of injury being road traffic accident. The leading cause of non-traumatic SCI was degenerative disease of the spine. The cervical segment was the most affected region of the spine with C4 being the most affected spinal level. Majority (87%) of the reviewed patients received care from neurosurgery unit, only 59% received Physiotherapy services.
Conclusion(s): It was concluded from the findings of this study that there was a high frequency of SCI over time, a young adult dominance and a male dominance in SCI cases. The most prevailing cause of SCI was concluded to be road traffic accident which is preventable. Further studies which are multicentre in nature are needed.
Implications: Under utilisation of Physiotherapy services in the management of spinal cord injury was highlighted in this study. There is therefore a need to put in place measures to better utilize and optimize physiotherapy services. It was also recommended that preventive measures and safe system approach should be put in place to reduce occurrence of SCI.
Funding, acknowledgements: None
Keywords: Spinal cord injury, hospital records, 10-year review
Topic: Neurology: spinal cord injury
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Committee: University of Ibadan / University College Hospital (UI/UCH) Joint Ethical Committee
Ethics number: UI/EC/18/0485
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
