Spine Trauma
A 68-year-old man with known ankylosing spondylitis presents after a fall from standing height. He has severe neck pain and new bilateral upper extremity weakness. His spine is fused in a kyphotic posture. Initial cervical spine radiographs appear unremarkable, but CT scan reveals a subtle horizontal fracture through the C6-C7 disc space extending through all three columns. Regarding spinal fractures in ankylosing spondylitis:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) causes a fused, osteoporotic spine ("bamboo spine") that behaves like a ...
Fracture patterns in AS are typically three-column injuries (extension-distraction mechanism) involv...
AS spinal fractures are always obvious on plain radiographs; they are typically stable one-column in...
Imaging in AS fractures: plain radiographs often miss fractures due to osteopenia and complex anatom...
Treatment: surgical stabilization is generally preferred due to high instability and non-union risk ...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option