Cervical Spine in Ankylosing Spondylitis Wheeless

Description: Disussion:

- patients with ankylosing spondylitis are prone to C-spine fracture following minor trauma;
- acute neck pain in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis is usually caused by a fracture through the ankylosed spine;
- site of involvement is most commonly near cervicothoracic junction (or C6-7);
- the fracture may extend thru the disc space or may extend thru all columns;
- there may be significant change in neck alignment;
- epidural hematoma may contribute to spinal cord injury;