Radiological Findings In Degenerative Spine Diseases At The Provincial General Reference Hospital Of Bukavu

Abstract

Background: Degenerative spine diseases (DSD) are one of the main causes of disability and heavy socioeconomic burden in developing countries. Their radiological evaluation remains important. Few radiological studies have been performed in Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of the present study was to describe the radiological profile of DRP at the Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu (HPGRB) and investigate the association between radiological lesions, sociodemographic characteristics, and duration of complaint at admission.  Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study from January 2020 to December 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical, and radiological data of patients corresponding to the study period were collected. Pearson's Chi-square (x²) test, Fisher's exact test, and likelihood ratio were used to study the association between the radiological findings, sociodemographic characteristics, and duration of complaint at admission.  Results: 117 patients with a sex ratio of 2.07:1, a mean age of 47.91 ± 11.39 years, and a body mass index between 18.34 and 44.70 kg/m² were recorded. Low back pain was the reason for consultation in 91 patients (77.2%). The majority of patients had chronic low back pain (77.2%) and had realized a spine CT scan (73.5%). The most frequent radiological findings were degenerative disc disease (DD) (91.45%), zygarthrosis (65.50%), and foraminal stenosis (56.52%). Canal stenosis was associated with sex and age (p=0.028); foraminal stenosis with address (p=0.049), bone remodeling with age (p=0.022); zygarthrosis with age (p=0.032); transitional disorder to sex (p=0.007); static disorder to BMI (p=0.003); finally, spondylolisthesis to age (p=0.003) and sex (p=0.014). In conclusion The degenerative lesions observed in our radiology department mainly concerned the intervertebral discs. Conclusion: The presence of certain degenerative radiological lesions was associated with the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients. Keywords: Degenerative spine pathologies, radiological findings, association, sociodemographic characteristics, duration of complaint at admission, Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu, HPGRB