Private healthcare sector spine surgery: patient and surgeon profiles from a large open medical scheme in South Africa.

Background It is generally understood that the profile of spine surgery varies by setting, based on factors such as the age profile of the population, the economic context and access to healthcare. Relatively little is known about the profile of spine surgery in South Africa, although one previous report from the public healthcare sector suggested a high burden of trauma and infection-related surgery. To our knowledge, there has been no formal investigation in the private sector.

Loss to long-term follow-up in children with spinal tuberculosis: a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Introduction: children with spinal tuberculosis (TB) are at risk of kyphotic deformity both during and after the active phase of the disease. Management guidelines include follow-up until skeletal maturity. Little is known about adherence to this recommendation.