title: Chance type cervical fracture and neurological deficits in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Prevention of sudden neck movements is vital in patients with ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine. We present a case of ankylosing spondylitis who sustained a cervical fracture. He presented with paraplegia after a minor car collision and died of pulmonary embolism after the operation for anterior stabilisation. We believe that the most important matter in a patient with advanced ankylosing spondylitis is the prevention of the fractures and complications. The need for neck protection in automobiles was emphasized and the literature reviewed about the occurrences of neurological deficits following trauma.
authors.affiliation: Uludag University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Bursa, Turkey. selsus@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmazlar
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kocaeli
authors.forename: Muammer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doygun
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001860:Bone Plates; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed