Frequency and Clinical Presentation of Osteoarticular Complications of Sickle Cell Disease in Mbujimayi, DR Congo
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhmnp.2781Keywords:
Sickle Cell Disease, Osteoarticular Complications, Frequency, Clinical Presentation, Mbujimayi.Abstract
Purpose: Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the world. It is responsible for serious complications, including those affecting the locomotor system. This study aimed to determine the frequency of osteoarticular complications in sickle cell patients and describe their clinical presentation in Mbujimayi.
Methods: this was a cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study, carried out in the surgery department of the General Hospital Bonzola, in the city of Mbujimayi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We collected the records of 298 sickle cell patients, among whom 67 presented osteoarticular complications.
Results: the frequency of osteoarticular complications was 22.5% in sickle cell patients in Mbujimayi. The majority of our patients were male (61.2%; sex ratio = 1.2) and their mean age was 17.0 ± 10.0 years. Pain was the most common reason for consultation (37.3%). Aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (40.3%) and osteomyelitis (28.3%) were the most common complications. Unloading the limb by plaster cast immobilization (76.1%), associated with analgesics and/or antibiotic therapy (53.7%) were the most applied therapeutic methods in this study.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: this study shows that osteoarticular complications, represented by aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and osteomyelitis, are very frequent in sickle cell patients in the city of Mbujimayi and their management remains a major daily challenge. These results are essential for the development of prevention and monitoring policies for these patients in our context.
Downloads
References
Martin HS. Sickle Cell Anemia, the First Molecular Disease: Overview of Molecular Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutic Approaches. The Scientific World Journal. Volume 8 (1);798678 p. 1295-1324.
Arnal C, Girot R. Sickle cell disease in adults. Encycl Méd Chir (Editions Scientifiques et Médicales Elsevier SAS, Paris, all rights reserved), Hematology, 13-006-D-16, 2002, 15 p.
Mohamed LS, N'Diaye AM, Cheikh M, Mohamed MH. Sickle Cell Disease in Mauritania: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects, Based on 135 Cases. La Tunisie Médicale. 2022; Vol 100 (04): 313–222.
Colette MA, Koto-Te-Nyiwa N, Benjamin ZG, Clément IL, Robijaona B, Jeff IB et al. Sickle cell disease: bioclinical approach, biological targets of therapeutic interest and perspectives. IJPSAT. Vol. 28 No. 2 September 2021, pp.539-545.
Mashako MR, Bitwe RM, Nsibu CN, Mashako YK. Epidemiological and clinical profile of sickle cell disease at the North Kivu provincial hospital. Rev. Malg. Ped. 2019;2(2):62-69
Tashkandi DA, Hanafy E, Alotaibi N, et al. (August 31, 2024) Indicators for Osteomyelitis in Children With Sickle Cell Disease Admitted With Vaso-Occlusive Seizures. Cureus 16(8): e68265. DOI 10.7759/cureus.68265.
Philippe H, Gildásio D, Uirassu B, Fernando S. Osteoarticular manifestations of sickle cell disease. Gas. med. Bahia 2010;80:(3):74-79.
Zavier Z, Tatiana B, Marcelle G, Hilaire DY. Osteoarticular lesions of sickle cell disease at the National University Hospital Center of Cotonou (Benin). Rev Mar Rhum. 2018; 44:54-7.
Diakite M, Kante AS, Dambakate A, Bathily M, Camara D, Tolo-Diebkile A. Bone Complications in Sickle Cell Disease in the Hematology-Oncology Department of Donka University Hospital, Conakry. European Scientific Journal April. 2019; Vol. 15 (12): 1857-81.
Diakité AA, Dembélé A, Cissé ME, Kanté M, Coulibaly Y, Maïga B et al. Osteoarticular Complications of Sickle Cell Disease in the Department of Pediatrics of Gabriel Touré University Hospital.Health Sci. Say. August 2019. Vol 20 (4); 76-81
Touré A, Coulibaly A, Tolo A, N´Gbesso RD, Keita K. Imaging and diagnostic aspects of progressive complications of homozygous sickle cell disease based on 162 cases collected at the Yopougon University Hospital. Rev. Int. Sc. Méd. Vol. 9, n°2, 2007, pp. 38-42
Antoine DG, Roger N, Pierre-Louis D, Maryline M, Jean-Jacques R. Orthopedic complications associated with sickle-cell disease. Acta Orthop. Belg., 2006, 72, 741-747
Taciana FA, Ana PT, Alexandra S, Gilberto AP, Sheila SS, Helio MS. Chronic osteo-articular changes in patients with sickle cell disease. Advances in Rheumatology. 2021;61:11
Coulibaly Y, Keita M, Maiga AKM, Guindo Y, Alwata I, Toure AA. Sickle cell osteomyelitis in the orthopedics and traumatology department of Gabriel Touré University Hospital. Mali Medical. 2010. Volume 25 (4):29-31.
Ayed H, Mammeri W, Djenouni A, Grifi F. Chronic osteoarticular complications of sickle cell disease in adults. A series of 747 patients. Revue du Rhumatisme. November 2016. Volume 83 (Supplement 1): A74-A75
Nathalie SP, Luiz CN, Rômulo SC, Wylqui MG. Diagnostic evaluation and treatment of osteoarticular lesions in patients having sickle cell anemia: Literature review. Research, Society and Development. 2024. Vol 13 (4):pp1-10.
Gandéma S, Sougué Y, Tiaho Z, Traoré h, Nikièma Z, Dakouré P. Osteo-Articular Complications Of Hemoglobinosis S And C In Children Of Pediatric Age At The University Hospital Of Bobo-Dioulasso. Mali Med. 2022;38(2):41-45.
Martí-Carvajal AJ, Solà I, Agreda-Pérez LH. Treatment for avascular necrosis of bone in people with sickle cell disease (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016. Issue 8. Art. No.: CD004344.
Alonge TO, Shokunbi WA. The choice of arthroplasty for secondary osteoarthritis of the hip joint following avascular necrosis of the femoral head in sicklers. J Natl Med Assoc. 2004;96(5):678–81.
Akakpo-Numado GK, Boume MA, Mihluedo-Agbolan KA, Sanni YS, Gnassingbe K, Tekou H. Osteoarticular complications of sickle cell disease in children. Hard Tissue. 2013 Apr 04;2(3):26.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Trésor Kabuya Kabamba, Pascal Cimpaka Kabeya, Eugène Mukeba Bamusua, Micheline Nyembo Epupwa, Didier Mubenga Katende, Henry-Benjamin Tshimanga Kabeya, Mardochée Kanyinda Kayembe, Séraphin Binene Katulondi, Alidor Mbangila Yombo, Gloria Ndaya Ntumba, Hubert Kabanga Nyandu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
