Spinal Disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 10-Year Hospital Experience from Senegal

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcome characteristics of spinal pathologies managed in the Rheumatology Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital, Dakar. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive study of 6196 patients followed between January 2012 and December 2022. Sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and outcome data were analyzed. Results: Spinal disorders accounted for 60.8% of consultations. The mean age was 60.3 years, and the sex ratio was 0.51 in favor of women. Low back pain was the most frequent complaint (44.5%), followed by neck pain (19.2%). Degenerative diseases were the most common diagnoses. Management relied on analgesics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs, and physiotherapy. Functional evaluation using the Lequesne, EIFFEL, NHP, SF-36, and WOMAC scores demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in quality of life. Conclusion: Spinal disorders represent a major public health issue in Senegal. Their functional and socioeconomic impact highlights the need to strengthen diagnostic and therapeutic resources adapted to the African context.