[Ankylosing spondylitis. Therapy and complications of 34 spine fractures].
BACKGROUND
Spine fractures in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are extremely unstable and associated with a high complication rate. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the therapy and complications of these fractures in AS for a better understanding and management.


METHODS
A total of 32 patients with 34 traumatic spine fractures were treated from 1981 to 2002. Cause of trauma, fracture site, and neurological examination were assessed. Analyses of the management of the treatment and complications were performed.


RESULTS
Banal traumas resulted mostly in spinal fractures at the C 5/6 and C 6/7 level. Two patients were treated conservatively, while the others were stabilized operatively. Before therapy was undertaken, six patients suffered from a cervical radiculopathy, ten patients had an incomplete and two a complete paraplegia. After therapy, neurological status improved in eight patients, but one had a deterioration of neurological symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Dorsal or combined dorsoventral stabilization of these fractures is necessary for better mobilization of these patients and to avoid further complications.
Zdichavsky
M
M
Abteilung für Allgemeine Chirurgie, Klinikum der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen. mzdic@yahoo.de
Blauth
M
M
Knop
C
C
Lange
U
U
Krettek
C
C
Bastian
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed