Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of patients operated on for lumbar spinal stenosis at the National Hospital of Niamey.

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study conducted in the neurosurgery department over a four-year period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024. All patients with complete records who underwent surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis were included. The variables studied included demographic characteristics, clinical signs, imaging findings, treatment modalities and postoperative outcomes.

Results: A total of 107 cases were included, accounting for 11.6% of all surgical procedures in the department. The average age was 57.57 ± 11.58 years, and males predominated (73%). Manual workers were the most represented category (42.06%). The most frequent symptom was low back pain (88.79%), followed by Lasègue’s sign (17%), mostly bilateral (78%). Imaging included CT (61%) and MRI (56%). NSAIDs and analgesics were administered in over 80% of cases. The most common surgical procedure was simple decompressive laminectomy (98.13%). Outcomes were favorable in most cases with few complications.

Conclusion: This study highlights the typical profile of patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis in Niamey: active males with chronic lumbar pain. Simple decompression proved effective with a low complication rate. These findings underscore the need for standardized and accessible treatment protocols in resource-limited settings.

 

Keywords

Lumbar spinal stenosis, decompression surgery, low back pain, neurosurgery, Niger, National Hospital of Niamey