Profile of acute traumatic spine injuries in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Background Spinal injuries are common and have a devastating impact on quality of life. African literature on the subject is sparse and there is no data on these injuries from Burkina Faso. Objectives: This study was carried out to describe the various traits of acute traumatic spinal injuries in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso to propose solutions for improving their management in our country. Methods: Age, sex, occupation, mode of injury, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of patients admitted for acute traumatic spinal injuries in the University Teaching Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso from January 2008 to June 2009 were retrospectively studied. Results: Seventy-five patients, mean age 31.3years, 63 men and 12 women were identified. Farming (20%) and trading (17.3%) were the most common occupations. The most common cause of injury was road traffic accident (41.4%) followed by Fall from height (36%). Most of the patients (65,3%) had neurological deficit on admission. The most common injured vertebra was the first lumbar followed by the fifth cervical. The majority of patients (92.3%) were treated conservatively, only 5 patients (6.7%) underwent surgery. Pressure sores and urinary tract infection were the complications. Eleven (14.7%) patients died in hospital; they all had cervical spine injury. The follow-up was poor. Conclusion: Young men in the productive stage of their lives are those most affected. The causes are preventable. A control strategy based on prevention and on creating a spine center could reduce the incidence of such injuries and improve their management.Key words: Burkina Faso, epidemiology, spine, spinal injuries, trauma