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Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · WFNS Journal 2025; 02(01): e42-e51
DOI: 10.1055/a-2590-6558
Original Article

Unveiling the Landscape of Traumatic Spinal Injuries in a Sub-Saharan African Setting: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Berjo Takoutsing
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
2   Department of Research, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon
3   Division of Research, Winners Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon
,
Ignatius Esene
3   Division of Research, Winners Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon
4   Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon
,
Gaetan Konfo Kwasseu
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
,
Cyrille Duquesne Nkouonlack
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
,
Pius Fokam
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
,
Alain Chichom-Mefire
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
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Abstract

Objectives

Traumatic spinal injury (TSI) is a devastating neurological condition that imposes a substantial economic burden on victims, families, and healthcare systems. While the prevalence and patterns of TSI can vary, its landscape in Cameroon remains underexplored.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic, prehospital, and clinical patterns of TSI at the two major referral hospitals in the Southwest Region (SWR) of Cameroon; Buea and Limbe Regional Hospitals, from 2017 to 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and the chi-square test was applied for bivariate comparisons.

Results

We identified 74 hospital admissions for TSI, with a hospital prevalence of 1% (95% CI: 0.8–1.2%). The most affected were males (79.2%), those aged between 25 and 44 years (55.6%), farmers (30.6%), married individuals (54.2%), and those living in a town different from our two centers (72.2%). Eighty percent of patients presenting <24 hours following the injury presented directly, while 87% of those presenting ≥24 hours presented as a referral (p < 0.001). All patients were transported from the sites of injury in a nonmedicalized vehicle. The most prevalent etiology was falls (43.7%), and the cervical spine was mostly affected (44.4%). Frankel's A and D grades were more common severities during admission (23.6 and 23.6%). More than half (66.7%) had an incomplete TSI.

Conclusion

TSIs constitute a significant burden in the SWR, with significant prehospital delays. Enforcing safety measures, and strengthening referral and emergency care systems, could help mitigate its impact.

Keywords

Cameroon - prevalence - retrospective studies - spinal cord - trauma

Ethical Approval Statement

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea (reference no. 2022/1556–01/UB/SG/IRB/FHS) approved this study. The Regional Delegation of Public Health in the Southwest Region and the Director of LRH and BRH provided administrative approvals to carry out the study. All patient information was anonymized to ensure confidentiality.


Authors' Contribution

B.T.: conception, design, data analysis, data curation, writing, reviewing, editing, and project administration. I.E.: data collection, writing, reviewing, and editing. C.D.N. and P.F.: reviewing and editing. G.K.K.: data analysis, reviewing, and editing. A.C.M.: conception, reviewing, editing, and guarantor. All authors contributed to the study and approved the submitted version.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 23 February 2025

Accepted: 15 April 2025

Article published online:
08 May 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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