Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological Study of Patients Operated on for Spondylolisthesis in the Neurosurgery Department of CH “the Luxembourg” in Bamako

Introduction: Spondylolisthesis is defined as a permanent anterior sliding of the vertebral body accompanied by the pedicles, the transverse processes and the posterior joints in relation to the underlying vertebra. The prevalence of spondylolisthesis varies between 4% and 9%, according to different authors in France, China and Japan. In Africa, some African authors find a spondylolisthesis rate of 9.93%. The objective of this study was to study the clinical and radiological aspects of spondylolisthesis at the Mother-Child Hospital of Bamako. Methods: Prospective and retrospective descriptive study carried out in the neurosurgery department of CH Mother-Child Luxembourg in Bamako from 2010 to 2018. Result: We collected 42 patients operated on for spondylolisthesis out of 145 patients, i.e., 29% of the department’s activities. The average age of our patients was 51 years old, with extremes of 20 and 75 years old. The sex ratio was 0.81 in favor of women. 61.9% of our patients performed work requiring physical strength. Neurogenic claudication was the predominant clinical sign with 88.1% of cases. CT was the most common way of exploration in 57.1% of cases and CT myelo in 47.6% of cases. Disc herniation was associated with spondylolisthesis in 23% of cases. Spondylolisthesis was grade 1 in 59.6% of cases and was responsible for mixed stenosis in 73.82% of cases. All our patients underwent laminectomy. The evolution at 6 months postoperative was favorable in 64.3% of cases. Conclusion: The diagnosis of spondylolisthesis is radiological and makes it possible to define the type of lesion according to its etiology and its severity, but also to highlight the conflicts with the nervous system which will have to be cured. Field and household work, pregnancy, carrying loads or children on the back could be incriminated.