Holden O Fatigba - Unit of Neurosurgery, Medicine School of Parakou University, Borgou, Benin, Africa
Aristote A Hans-Moevi - Department of Surgery, Medicine School of Abomey-Calavi University, Benin, Africa
Mofou Belo - Medicine School of Lomé University, Togo, Africa
Kofi-M Savi de tove - Department of Imaging Diagnose, Medicine School of Parakou University, Benin, Africa

Background & Aim: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition. This congenital or acquired stenosis has multipleetiologies. The goal of this study was to describe intraoperative pathoanatomic findings of lumbar spinal stenosis observed withina black African population.Methods & Materials/Patients: It was a retrospective and descriptive study performed at Departmental Teaching Hospital ofBorgou in Republic of Benin (West Africa) from January 2008 to June 2014. All black African patients who underwent surgery forLSS were included. Intra operative aetiologies were recorded. Patients with extruded lumbar discopathy were excluded.Results: During study period, 199 patients were selected. It was 109 men (54.8%) and 90 women (42.2%). Patients mean age was53.2 years ± 10.96, mean weight 77.11kg ± 14.37 and mean height 171 cm ± 8.64cm. The LSS was acquired in 157 patients (78.9%),congenital in 29 (14.6%) and in 13 cases (6.5%) it was mixed origin. A hypertrophyof ligamentum flavum was observed in 101patients (50.8%), zygapophyseal joint hypertrophy in 15 cases (7.2%) and in 74 cases (37.2%) the two factors were associated. Adisc bulge were observed in 9 cases (4.5%)Conclusion: The ligamentum flavum hypertrophy is the main cause of LSS in black Africans. Studies to determine the mechanismof hypertrophy will be useful in order to initiate preventive treatment.

Lumbar spinal stenosis; Ligamentum Flavum hypertrophy; Black African; Laminectomy; Zygapophyseal joint hypertrophy