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TUBERCULOSIS OF THE SPINE IN ILORIN, NIGERIA
Abstract
Background: Data on tuberculosis (TB) of the spine from Nigeria is scanty despite the
endemicity of the disease.
Objective: To highlight hospital data on spinal tuberculosis.
Design: A ten-year retrospective study of records on spinal TB from the medical records,
orthopaedic and medical wards was done. The clinical notes, radiographs and haematology
resuits of the patients were analysed.
Setting: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria .
Subjects: All patients treated for spinal TB in the hospital from January 1990 to December
1999 were studied.
Results: Fifty patients were seen, 24 males and 26 females, age range 1.5 - 70 years (mean 27.1
+/- 22.8 years). Peak prevalence (30%) was in the first decade. Twenty seven patients had
complete clinical data in their case notes. Twelve patients had paraplegia and three had
concomitant pulmonary TB. The lumbar spine was the commonest site of involvement. Two
thirds (18 patients) had positive mantoux test. Twenty three patients had chemotherapy but
a third was lost to follow up within two months. Twenty one patients (77.8%) had difficulty
obtaining the prescribed drugs due to financial diff~culties. No patient had surgical
intervention.
Conclusion: Spinal TB is still a common disease in Nigeria with unacceptable laxity in control
measures. There is need for patient health education, contact tracing, provision of free anti-
TB drugs and a general improvement in the economy to reduce the prevalence of spinal TB
in the country.
endemicity of the disease.
Objective: To highlight hospital data on spinal tuberculosis.
Design: A ten-year retrospective study of records on spinal TB from the medical records,
orthopaedic and medical wards was done. The clinical notes, radiographs and haematology
resuits of the patients were analysed.
Setting: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria .
Subjects: All patients treated for spinal TB in the hospital from January 1990 to December
1999 were studied.
Results: Fifty patients were seen, 24 males and 26 females, age range 1.5 - 70 years (mean 27.1
+/- 22.8 years). Peak prevalence (30%) was in the first decade. Twenty seven patients had
complete clinical data in their case notes. Twelve patients had paraplegia and three had
concomitant pulmonary TB. The lumbar spine was the commonest site of involvement. Two
thirds (18 patients) had positive mantoux test. Twenty three patients had chemotherapy but
a third was lost to follow up within two months. Twenty one patients (77.8%) had difficulty
obtaining the prescribed drugs due to financial diff~culties. No patient had surgical
intervention.
Conclusion: Spinal TB is still a common disease in Nigeria with unacceptable laxity in control
measures. There is need for patient health education, contact tracing, provision of free anti-
TB drugs and a general improvement in the economy to reduce the prevalence of spinal TB
in the country.
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