Research Article

Management of Spinal Injuries at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville (UHCB)

Authors: Léon Boukassa, Ibara Wamè R , Aristide Ngayo , Marlène NGOYA , Sinclair Kinata , Gédéon Thouassa , Brice Olivier Ngakosso, Rel Boukaka Kala, Hugues Brieux Ekouele Mbaki.

DOI: 10.33425/3069-5503.1012

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Abstract

Overall objective: To describe the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of spinal trauma at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville (UHCB)

Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from July 2022 to June 2025, covering a period of 36 months. The study was carried out in the UHCB's general surgery department. All patients with spinal trauma confirmed by imaging were included. The variables analyzed included sociodemographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcome data.

Results: We included 79 patients, with a mean age of 39.5 ± 16.80 years and a male-to-female ratio of 3.9:1. Road traffic accidents were the main cause of injury (57.3%). At initial examination, 41.8% and 10.1% of patients were classified as ASIA A and ASIA B, respectively; head injury was associated with cervical spine trauma in 30.4% of cases. CT scans were performed in 80% of patients; they revealed discoligamentous lesions in the cervical spine in 39.2% of cases, simple fractures in the thoracolumbar spine in 42.9% and fracture-dislocations in 50%. Twenty?eight patients (35.4%) underwent surgery, after a mean delay of 21.6 days. All operated patients underwent neural decompression with osteosynthesis, via an anterior approach to the cervical spine and a posterior approach to the thoracolumbar segment. Short?term outcomes were favorable in two patients; the complications encountered in operated patients were mainly pressure sores (42.9%) and urinary tract infections (21.4%), and the in?hospital mortality rate was 7.6%.

Conclusion: Spinal injuries represent a significant public health problem. They primarily affect young and active populations and occur mainly during traffic accidents.

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