Jemds.com Original Research Article J. Evolution Med. Dent. Sci./eISSN- 2278-4802, pISSN- 2278-4748/ Vol. 7/ Issue 26/ June 25, 2018 Page 3049 SPINE SURGERY IN JOS, NIGERIA- AN INITIAL EXPERIENCE Ode Michael Bundepuun 1 , Taiwo Femi Olu 2 , Amupitan Idumagbodi 3 , Onche Icha Inalegwu 4 , Ode Gloria Nengi 5 , Yusuf Nuhu 6 1 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Jos University Teaching Hospital/ Daisyland Orthopaedic Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. 2 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Jos University Teaching Hospital/ Daisyland Orthopaedic Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. 3 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Jos University Teaching Hospital/ Daisyland Orthopaedic Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. 4 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Jos University Teaching Hospital/ Daisyland Orthopaedic Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. 5 Community Health Physician, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. 6 Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Spine pathologies are a common presentation to Orthopaedicians and Neurosurgeons and include degenerative diseases of the spine, spine tumours, traumatic spine injuries, spine infections and spine deformities. Non-operative and operative treatment modalities are employed in the treatment of these conditions. The increasing ageing population worldwide has resulted in an increase in the degenerative spine conditions presenting to the clinician. Many surgical procedures are employed in the treatment of these conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the procedures carried out and attendant outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a case series of spine surgeries carried out over a 2-year period (2015 to 2017) in hospitals in Jos Nigeria. The data was reviewed retrospectively. They were analysed for spine pathologies; operative procedures were carried out. Duration of procedures, outcomes and complications were observed. The outcome was assessed using numeric pain scale. Data was analysed using the Epi Info statistical software. RESULTS 25 patients in total were operated within the said period. Ages ranged between 35 and 77 years, with a mean of 60.8 years. Male- to-female ratio was 1:1.5. Pathologies operated on were lumbar spondylosis with canal stenosis and instability 8 patients (32%), lumbar spondylosis with canal stenosis without instability 6 patients (24%), canal stenosis 4 patients (16%), severe cervical spondylosis 3 patients (12%), spondylolisthesis 2 patients (8%) and metastatic tumour spread to the spine 2 patients (8%). Operative procedures carried out were laminectomy with instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF) 8 (56%), laminectomies and non-instrumented posterolateral fusion 9 (36%) and anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) 3 (12%). 21 patients had a reduction by 6 or more points on the numeric pain scale (84%). One patient had cerebrospinal fluid leak which was treated non- operatively; 2 patients had superficial surgical site infection and one patient was reoperated for persistent radiculopathy and improved thereafter. CONCLUSION Spine surgery is a safe and effective means of treating various spine pathologies with minimal risks and more of these procedures will be employed in view of the increasing number of patients with degenerative spine disease. KEY WORDS Spine, Surgery, Jos, Nigeria. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bundepuun OM, Olu TF, Idumagbodi A, et al. Spine surgery in Jos, Nigeria- an initial experience. J. Evolution Med. Dent. Sci. 2018;7(26):3049-3052, DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2018/684 BACKGROUND Spine pathologies form a large part of case presentations to the orthopaedic and neurosurgeon. These conditions include degenerative spine diseases, trauma to the spine, spine deformities, tumours, spondylolisthesis and spine ‘Financial or Other Competing Interest’: None. Submission 04-05-2018, Peer Review 10-06-2018, Acceptance 16-06-2018, Published 25-06-2018. Corresponding Author: Dr. Ode Michael Bundepuun, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Jos University Teaching Hospital, PMB-2076, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria-930001. E-mail: odemb2014@gmail.com DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2018/684 infections amongst others. A number of these patients can be successfully managed with non-operative treatment modalities, especially the degenerative conditions, but a good number may require surgical intervention for the resolution of their pathologies. Spine surgery procedures are now a mainstay for the treatment of these pathologies and they serve to decompress the neural structures, stabilise the spine and correct deformity. (1-4) There is an increasing ageing population worldwide and a consequent increase in the diseases that affect such a demographic. Degenerative spine diseases which occur with increasing age (5-7) are now a common pathology presenting to the clinician. There is thus a growing requirement for spine procedures, particularly for the degenerative diseases and in some societies there has been a significant increase in the need for spine surgeries for