Spinal Trauma
A 62-year-old man with known ankylosing spondylitis presents after a minor fall. He has increased back pain and new onset neck pain. He has a fixed kyphotic posture with chin-on-chest deformity. Examination reveals bilateral upper limb weakness (4/5) with hyperreflexia. CT spine shows a transverse fracture through the C6-7 disc space extending through both columns. Regarding spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Ankylosing spondylitis patients have a 4-fold increased risk of spinal fractures; the fused spine ac...
Fractures are unstable by definition as they typically extend through all three columns (like a long...
The spine is flexible in ankylosing spondylitis; fractures are inherently stable; neurological defic...
Imaging requires CT of the entire spine (25% have additional non-contiguous fractures) and MRI to as...
Surgical stabilization is the treatment of choice due to high instability; long posterior instrument...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option