Spinal Injuries And Their Urological Complications As Seen At Kenyatta National Hospital And The National Spinal Injuries Hospital

Abstract

Absence of local literature on the incidence of spinal injuries and their complications prompted me to undertake the above study.

The Study was done in two parts:

Part I: Consisted of a retrospective study in which data from patients files from January 1982 - December 1987 was analysed and various demographic indices established. 244 patients were considered. .It is clear that males are more commonly ~fflicted than females~ M:F as 4.5:1 and that it is people in the active productive age group 20 - 40 years who are commonly the victims. Road traffic accidents are the commonest single cause of spinal injuries.

Part II: Consisted of a prospective study in which the urological complications amongst in-patients at the National Spinal Injuries Hospital from January 1988 to June 1988 were considered. 28 Patients were included in the study. 26 of these patients were noted to have urinary tract infection. Pseudomonas was the commonest organism isolated and that it was resistant to most commonly

used drugs including gentamycin. Most organisms were sensitive to amikacin;

ceftazidine and norfloxizine.