Tuberculosis of the spine in Ilorin, Nigeria

Data on tuberculosis (TB) of the spine from Nigeria is scanty despite the endemicity of the disease.

To highlight hospital data on spinal tuberculosis.

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 results of the patients were analysed.

University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.

All patients treated for spinal TB in the hospital from January 1990 to December 1999 were studied.

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 difficulties. No patient had surgical intervention.

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.