Non-traumatic paraplegia [correction of paraplegis] in a Zimbabwean population--a retrospective survey.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the aetiology of non-traumatic paraplegia in a Zimbabwean population and to compare findings with other studies from Africa.

DESIGN

Retrospective survey over a six year period.

SETTING

National Rehabilitation Centre, Ruwa, Zimbabwe.

SUBJECTS

159 patients referred to the National Rehabilitation Centre with non-traumatic paraplegia.

RESULTS

The commonest causes of non-traumatic paraplegia were neoplasms (28% of cases) of which a third were metastatic, followed by tuberculosis (TB) (27%). Transverse myelopathy of unknown aetiology was diagnosed in 11% of cases and 6% had Guillain Barré syndrome. Miscellaneous conditions included: degenerative bone and joint conditions, degenerative cord disorders and infections. In 7% of cases no diagnosis was reached. On admission all patients were confined to wheelchairs. On discharge 49% had regained some degree of mobility. A year after discharge 48% were known to be alive and 18% had died. The fate of 34% was not known.

CONCLUSIONS

The aetiology of non-traumatic paraplegia in a Zimbabwean population is similar to that reported from other African countries, with tumours and tuberculosis accounting for over half the cases. Survival appears to be related not only to the primary condition but also to the severity of the disability.