ABSTRACT
Background: Lumbar spondylosis (LS) increases with, and is perhaps an inevitable concomitant of age, and is a major cause of low back pain and disability in the elderly. The prevalence in Nigeria is poorly documented, and its knowledge will assist in patient management. Objective: The aim is to study the gender and age group prevalence of LS in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of 368 anteroposterior and lateral lumbosacral spine spondylotic radiographs of patients of both genders. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0 (New York, USA). The value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The age range was 1790 years, mean (standard deviation) was 51.96 (13.49) years. The majority (201 [55%]) were aged 4564 years. The males (217 [59%]) were aged 1790 years, and the mean (standard deviation) was 52.28 (14.49) years, whereas the females (151 [41%]) were aged 1780 years, and the mean (standard deviation) was 51.51 (11.95) years. The mean ages showed no significant gender difference (P = 0.429). Male: female ratio was 1.4:1. LS prevalence increased with age, peaked at 4554 years in females, 5564 years in males, and steadily declined to zero, in females after 80 years, and in males after 90 years. Conclusion: LS prevalence started as early as 17 years of life, increased with age, peaked at 4554 years in females, 5564 years in males, and steadily declined to zero, in females after 80 years, and in males after 90 years. Sex ratio showed slight male preponderance