title: Thoracolumbar fracture dislocation sustained during childbirth in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a major subtype of the spondyloarthropathies. Uncoupling of bone formation and resorption along with ectopic ossification of paraspinal soft-tissue structures alters the biomechanics of the spine and leads to an increased susceptibility to fracture.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report on a thoracolumbar fracture dislocation sustained in a 33-year-old Gravida 2/Para 2 woman, which occurred during labor. Although there are several reports in the literature of thoracolumbar fracture dislocations sustained in patients with AS, none have been reported during childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated suspicion for injury should be maintained when patients with AS present with back or neck pain even without a history of significant trauma.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, CA 94305-2200, USA. robmayle@gmail.com
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mayle
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Eugene J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Carragee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome