Journal of Orthopedics and Joint Surgery

Register      Login

VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2023 ) > List of Articles

CASE SERIES

Spine Fractures in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: Analysis of Fracture Pattern, Clinical, and Radiological Outcome: A Retrospective Observational Study

Shreya P Shenoy, Delhibabu B Thamba, Subhadeep Ghosh, CS Vishnu Prasath, V Venkatasujith

Keywords : Ankylosing spondylitis, American Spinal Cord Injury Association score, Fracture diagnosis, Fracture, Neurological deficit, Review, Surgery, Spine fracture

Citation Information : Shenoy SP, Thamba DB, Ghosh S, Prasath CV, Venkatasujith V. Spine Fractures in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: Analysis of Fracture Pattern, Clinical, and Radiological Outcome: A Retrospective Observational Study. 2023; 5 (2):96-100.

DOI: 10.5005/jojs-10079-1122

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 07-07-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: Spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) frequently result from even a low energy mechanism and are associated with spinal cord injury in over 29–91%. The aim of this study is to analyze the pattern, clinical, and radiological outcomes of spine fractures in such patients. Materials and methods: We reviewed 18 patients suffering from AS who sustained a spinal fracture and were treated between 2014 and 2022. Injury mechanism, method of diagnosis, the location and the type of the fracture, neurological status pre and postoperatively (post-op), and management and clinical outcome were studied. Seven of them were diagnosed in X-rays at the initial examination, and the remaining 11 in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/computed tomography (CT). Fracture healing and neurological function recovery were observed over the follow-up period. Results: A total of 18 patients were included, all male, with AS, who presented with spine fractures and neurological impairment. The most common level of the spine involved was the thoracolumbar spine (66.66%). Diagnosis of fractures was possible with X-rays only in 31% of cases. The most common pattern of fracture was found to be a chance fracture (33.33%). A total of 13 cases presented varying grades of neurological deficits (72.2%). The neurological function and fracture healing of these patients improved significantly after surgery. The conservatively treated patient had a poor prognosis, and one of the cervical fractures surgically treated patients had respiratory complications. Conclusion: The diagnosis of spine fracture in AS requires higher imaging modalities. Since most cases present with neurological deficits, surgery is required for treatment and has shown to be effective in improving neurological deficits.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Stolwijk C, Boonen A, van Tubergen A, et al. Epidemiology of spondyloarthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2012;38(3):441–476. DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2012.09.003
  2. Akkoc N. Are spondyloarthropathies as common as rheumatoid arthritis worldwide? A review. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2008;10(5): 371–378. DOI: 10.1007/s11926-008-0060-3
  3. Sieper J, Braun J, Rudwaleit M, et al. Ankylosing spondylitis: an overview. Ann Rheum Dis 2002;61 Suppl 3(Suppl 3): iii8–ii18. DOI: 10.1136/ard.61.suppl_3.iii8
  4. Bechterew VM. The classic: stiffening of the spine in flexion, a special form of disease*. Clini Orthop Relat Res 1979;(143):4–7. PMID: 389519.
  5. Appel H, Loddenkemper C, Miossec P. Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis - pathology of acute inflammation. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2009;27(4 Suppl 55):S15–S19. PMID: 19822040.
  6. Caron T, Bransford R, Nguyen Q, et al. Spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spinal disorders. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2010;35(11): E458–E464. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181cc764f
  7. Graham B, Van Peteghem PK. Fractures of the spine in ankylosing spondylitis. Diagnosis, treatment, and complications. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1989;14(8):803–807. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-198908000-00005
  8. Bohlman HH. Acute fractures and dislocations of the cervical spine. An analysis of three hundred hospitalized patients and review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1979;61(8):1119–1142. PMID: 511875.
  9. Gelman MI, Umber JS. Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine in ankylosing spondylitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1978;130(3):485–491. DOI: 10.2214/ajr.130.3.485
  10. Rasker JJ, Prevo RL, Lanting PJ. Spondylodiscitis in ankylosing spondylitis, inflammation or trauma? A description of six cases. Scand J Rheumatol 1996;25(1):52–57. DOI: 10.3109/03009749609082669
  11. Rustagi T, Drazin D, Oner C, et al. Fractures in spinal ankylosing disorders: a narrative review of disease and injury types, treatment techniques, and outcomes. J Orthop Trauma 2017;31 Suppl 4:S57–S74. DOI: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000953
  12. Whang PG, Goldberg G, Lawrence JP, et al. The management of spinal injuries in patients with ankylosing spondylitis or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a comparison of treatment methods and clinical outcomes. J Spinal Disord Tech 2009;22(2):77–85. DOI: 10.1097/BSD.0b013e3181679bcb
  13. Westerveld LA, Verlaan JJ, Oner FC. Spinal fractures in patients with ankylosing spinal disorders: a systematic review of the literature on treatment, neurological status and complications. Eur Spine J 2009;18(2):145–156. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-008-0764-0
  14. Olerud C, Frost A, Bring J. Spinal fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Eur Spine J 1996;5(1):51–55. DOI: 10.1007/BF00307827
  15. Yau AC, Chan RN. Stress fracture of the fused lumbo-dorsal spine in ankylosing spondylitis. A report of three cases. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1974;56-B(4):681–687. DOI: 10.1302/0301-620X.56B4.681
  16. Shah NG, Keraliya A, Harris MB, et al. Spinal trauma in DISH and AS: is MRI essential following the detection of vertebral fractures on CT? Spine J 2021;21(4):618–626. DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.027
  17. Serin E, Karakurt L, Yilmaz E, et al. Effects of two-levels, four-levels, and four-levels plus offset-hook posterior fixation techniques on protecting the surgical correction of unstable thoracolumbar vertebral fractures: a clinical study. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 2004;14(1):1–6. DOI: 10.1007/s00590-003-0110-5
  18. Tezeren G, Kuru I. Posterior fixation of thoracolumbar burst fracture: short-segment pedicle fixation versus long-segment instrumentation. J Spinal Disord Tech 2005;18(6):485–488. DOI: 10.1097/01.bsd.0000149874.61397.38
  19. Murray GC, Persellin RH. Cervical fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis: a report of eight cases and review of the literature. Am J Med 1981;70(5):1033–1041. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9343(81)90860-3
  20. Thumbikat P, Hariharan RP, Ravichandran G, et al. Spinal cord injury in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a 10-year review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2007;32(26):2989–2995. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31815cddfc
  21. Taggard DA, Traynelis VC. Management of cervical spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis with posterior fixation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2000;25(16):2035–2039. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200008150-00006
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.