TITLE:
Spinal Cord Compression Due to Infectious Spondylodiscytis at the Parakou Departmental University Hospital Center in Benin Republic
AUTHORS:
Kouassi Jean Marie Kisito Quenum, Oumar Coulibaly, Agbéko Comlan Doleagbenou, Kévin Ahouanse, Alidjanatou Chabi Ado, Ibourahim Kpossou, Ulrich Agonkpanhoun, Bernice Hountondji Quenum, Amidou Adjamou, Olatundji Holden Fatigba
KEYWORDS:
Spinal Cord Compression, Spondylodiscitis, Tuberculosis
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.15 No.4,
November
7,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Spinal cord compression is a health problem. They represent a major cause of long-term disability. A spinal cord compression due to spondylodiscitis is an inflammatory aetiologie. Objective: to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of acute spinal cord compression due to infectious spondylodiscitis. Population and Methods: this was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with retrospective collection extending from January 1st, 2018 to December 31th, 2023. It concerned all patients admitted to the neurosurgery department of CHUD-B/A, for acute spinal cord compression due to infectious spondylodiscitis. Results: A total of 31 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 28.35 ± 15.20 years, with extremes of 10 and 72 years. Male predominance, with a sex ratio of 1.58. Average admission delay of 5.74 ± 5.92 months, with spinal pain as the reason for admission in 51.61% of cases. Lesion syndrome present in 100% of cases, with paraparesis as a deficit in 51.61%, and Franckel Grade C in 67.74% of cases. Compressive epiduritis (54.84%) was the predominant lesion on CT scan with injection. C-reactive protein and sedimentation rate were disturbed in 38.71% and 25.81% of patients respectively. Of these, 77.42% of spondylodiscitis cases were of tuberculous etiology, with 100% treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs (ERHZ). Surgical treatment was performed in 22% of patients, with an average delay of 2.71 ± 2.36 days; 6 by anterior approach and 1 by posterior approach. The long-term evolution was favorable with 71.43% of complete neurological recovery at one year. No deaths were recorded in this study. Conclusion: The frequency of tuberculous spondylodiscitis is commonly high; surgical management in this serie is limited by the socioeconomic level of patients. But the outcome is good when surgical procedures are performed with no mortality.