Profile of Infectious Spondylodiscitis in Rheumatology Consultation at University Teaching Hospital of Kara, Togo

Objectives: The objective is to determine the frequency and the semiological and evolutionary profiles of infectious spondylodiscitis in hospital practice in Kara. Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a case series of patients with infectious spondylodiscitis, who were admitted to the rheumatology department of Kara University Hospital in North Togo. Results: Among the 3972 examined patients, 86 (33 males and 53 females) patients (2.16%) had infectious spondylodiscitis. The average age of these patients at the onset of the disease was 47.20 years. The average duration of the disease was 11.41 months. Tuberculosis was suspected in 77 of 86 patients (89.53%). The infectious spondylodiscitis most often affected the lumbar (51.04%) and dorsal (21.87%) segments and was associated with a pulmonary location in 31 patients (36.04%). In addition to underdevelopment and poor hygiene (72 cases), alcoholism (15 cases) and human immunodeficiency virus infection (10 cases) were the main risk factors identified. The progress with the medical treatment was favorable in 65 patients (75.58%) and 16 patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: The frequency of infectious spondylodiscitis reflects the underdevelopment and poor hygiene levels in Black Africa. Its etiology is most commonly associated with tuberculosis and remains a concern despite the epidemiological transition of the different diseases.