Surgical treatment for thoracolumbar fracture with ankylosing spondylitis / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To investigate surgical protocol for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture with ankylosing spondylitis. [Method]A retrospective study was performed in 8 thoracolumbar-fracture patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Of them, 6 patients were neurological intact and 2 had neurological defect(Frankel grades the C level). Under general anesthesia, all of the 8 patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with pedicle screws at two segments in both ends of the fracture. Laminectomy for decompression of the nerve tissue was performed in the 2 patients with neurological defect simultaneously.[Result]All of the 8 patients were followed up for 8 to 30 months. Solid bone healing was achieved in all of the patients. Two patients with eurological compromise had improved by two Frankel grades (complete recovery).[Conclusion]Thoracolumbar fracture in ankylosing spondylitis traverse both bone and ligaments, producing an extremely unstable situation similar to a shearing type of fracture. Reduction of the displacement and stabilization is best achieved with a pedicle screw system at two segments in both ends of the fracture.