A case report of neurologically unstable fracture of the lumbosacral spine in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.
BACKGROUND
Fracture/dislocation is uncommonly reported in ankylosing spondylitis involving the lumbosacral spine.


METHODS
We report an 18-month follow-up of a case of neurologically unstable traumatic fracture of the lumbosacral spine in ankylosing spondylitis.


RESULTS
Posterior decompression, alar-transverse fusion and instrumentation were performed. Anterior diskectomy and fusion were done 6 weeks later. There was solid bony fusion on follow-up and the patient had improvement of 2 Frankel grades and was able to ambulate.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined approaches and longer fixations to stabilise the spine may be required. In the lumbosacral spine, this poses a problem vis-à-vis limited levels of fixation in the sacrum.
Hee
H T
HT
Division of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. hwantak@singnet.com.sg
Thambiah
J
J
Nather
A
A
Wong
H K
HK
D000058:Accidental Falls; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012447:Sacrum / Q000293:injuries*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016896:Treatment Outcome