The zygapophyseal joint determines morphology of the enthesophyte.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the contribution of zygapophyseal joint ankylosis on the morphology of the spinal enthesophyte.


METHODS
Radiographic analysis of lumbar spine in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with different types of enthesophytes. Computerized axial tomographic analysis of the zygapophyseal (ZA) joints of the lumbar spine of AS patients with chunky enthesophytes and bridging syndesmophytes.


RESULTS
Four patients with AS were selected for the simultaneous presence of chunky enthesophytes and bridging syndesmophytes. At the levels with bridging syndesmophytes at least one ZA joint was ankylosed. At the levels with chunky enthesophytes alone the ZA joints were not ankylosed.


CONCLUSIONS
The morphology of the enthesophytes is influenced by the presence of ankylosis in the ZA joint.
de Vlam
K
K
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Gent, Belgium. kurt.devlam@rug.ac.be
Mielants
H
H
Verstaete
K L
KL
Veys
E M
EM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001175:Arthrography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology