Traumatic paraplegia in Zaria, Nigeria: the case for a centre for injuries of the spine.

This is a review of 48 patients with traumatic paraplegia treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria in the period June 1973 to June 1982. The records are unfortunately incomplete. All but three of the patients were treated conservatively. The mean hospital stay was 3 months. Facilities for adequate management including rehabilitation were lacking. Twelve patients (25 per cent) died within 10 weeks of admission, 30 developed bed sores and all had urinary tract infection beginning whilst in hospital. Wheelchairs could not be provided by the hospital for those who did not recover motor function and most of the patients could not afford to buy them. Most of the patients treated earlier in the series were lost to follow up. In the last 12 months of the period under review, 15 patients were treated using much the same facilities as existed in previous years. There was no hospital mortality during this period, and although urinary tract infection could not be prevented, only two of the patients (13 per cent) developed bed sores. It is suggested that the establishment of a Centre for Injuries of the Spine, with the direct involvement of the Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare, in the management of these patients will definitely improve the overall results.