Retrospective study on the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with cervical spine fracture: 8 cases report / 中国骨伤

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss surgical procedures and curative effect of ankylosing spondylitis with cervical spine fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2003 to October 2011, 8 patients with ankylosing spondylitis with cervical spine fracture were respectively treated by surgical treatment (7 cases) and conservative treatment (1 case), 8 cases were male with an average of age 41 years old (ranged, 27 to 49). All patients were confirmed by CT and MRI,and 6 cases combined with spinal cord injury. One case was treated with skull-neck-thorax model, 7 cases were treated by surgery. The procedures included anterior approach (5 cases), posterior approach (1 case), and combined anteroposterior approach (1 case). Fracture fusion condition were evaluated according to CT at the final following up, improvement of spinal cord injury were assessed according to Frankel classification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight patients were followed up from 4 to 38 months with an average of 34 months. Seven cases obtained bone healing, 3 patients without spinal cord injury remained intact after operation, 5 patients with spinal cord injury improved at different degree after operation. Frankel classification of 7 patients were improved 1 degree, and 1 case delayed union for following up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ankylosing spondylitis with cervical spine fracture is a special kind of trauma, which have a high rate of neurological deficits. Surgery should be performed as early as possible, and procedures were chosen depending on particular case.</p>