title: A simplified staging system based on the radiological findings in different stages of ochronotic spondyloarthropathy.
abstract: This study describes a group of 26 patients with ochronotic spondyloarthropathy who were on regular treatment and follow-up at a tertiary level hospital and proposes a simplified staging system for ochronotic spondyloarthropathy based on radiographic findings seen in the thoracolumbar spine. This proposed classification makes it easy to identify the stage of the disease and start the appropriate management at an early stage. Four progressive stages are described: an inflammatory stage (stage 1), the stage of early discal calcification (stage 2), the stage of fibrous ankylosis (stage 3), and the stage of bony ankylosis (stage 4). To our knowledge, this is the largest reported series of radiological description of spinal ochronosis, and emphasizes the contribution of the spine radiograph in the diagnosis and staging of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jebaraj
authors.forename: Binita Riya
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.forename: George Koshy
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chiramel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matthai
authors.forename: Apurve
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parameswaran
keywords: Alkaptonuria; ochronosis; spine