title: An unusual cause of difficult intubation in a patient with a large cervical anterior osteophyte: a case report.
abstract: This report describes a case in which a large anterior osteophyte on the C2 and C3 vertebrae, due to ankylosing spondylitis, resulted in distortion of the anatomy of the upper airway and difficult intubation. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disease, characterized by stiffening of the joints and ligaments. Stiffness of the cervical spine, atlanto-occipital, temporomandibular and cricoarytenoid joints may cause difficult intubation (1). This report describes a case in which a large anterior osteophyte on the C2 and C3 vertebrae, associated with AS, resulted in distortion of the anatomy of the upper airway and difficult intubation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey. mcesur@atauni.edu.tr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Alici
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Erdem
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods