Spine Fractures in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Pedro Luis Bazán
Martín Alejandro Bravo
Edgar Enrique Gutiérrez
Sergio Terraza
Carlos Cortés
Álvaro Enrique Borri
Martín Medina
Nicolás Maximiliano Ciccioli

Abstract

Introduction: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory disorder that affects the axial skeleton including the sacroiliac joints. Patients are 4 times more likely to suffer a fracture (10% at 10 years of illness), and there is a high percentage of delay in diagnosis. Stiffness and osteoporosis are key to suffering these injuries. CT and MRI scannings play a fundamental role in diagnosis. The current choice for treatment is decompression and surgical fixation. A series of cases is presented in order to: consider diagnostic difficulties; describe the injuries and therapeutic decision; analyze the presentation of complications andcarry out a bibliographic update.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study of a case series of 6 patients.
Results: Six males with an average age of 58.1 years. Four presented a fall from the standing position. The delay in diagnosis was 12.8 days on average. The most affected areas were thoracic and lumbar, with a predominant mechanism of hyperextension. Four patients underwent surgery.
Discussion: Fractures in patients with AS are frequent complications related to osteoporosis. CT is the sensitive and specific method for diagnosing the lesion. The current literature supports the need for subsequent surgical treatment.
Conclusions: AS carriers are more at risk of suffering a low-energy trauma fracture. A delay of 12.8 days in diagnosis. Surgical treatment, with long fixations and posterior release, is the most widely used treatment. We have not observed post treatment complications.Level of evidence: IV
 
 
 

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How to Cite
Bazán, P. L., Bravo, M. A., Gutiérrez, E. E., Terraza, S., Cortés, C., Borri, Álvaro E., Medina, M., & Ciccioli, N. M. (2021). Spine Fractures in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 86(1), 58-63. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2021.86.1.1094
Section
Clinical Research
Author Biographies

Pedro Luis Bazán, Spinal Pathology Service, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos “José de San Martín”, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Pedro L. Bazán, MD. Spinal Pathology Service, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos “José de San Martín”, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Martín Alejandro Bravo, Hospital Municipal de Agudos “Leónidas Lucero”, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Martín A. Bravo, MD. Hospital Municipal de Agudos “Leónidas Lucero”, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Edgar Enrique Gutiérrez, Instituto de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina

Edgar E. Gutiérrez, MD. Instituto de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina

Sergio Terraza, Clínica Francesa, Mendoza, Argentina

Sergio Terraza, MD.  Clínica Francesa, Mendoza, Argentina

Carlos Cortés, Instituto Traumatológico, Santiago de Chile, Chile

Carlos Cortés, MD. Instituto Traumatológico, Santiago de Chile, Chile

Álvaro Enrique Borri, Hospital Italiano La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Álvaro E. Borri, MD. Hospital Italiano La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Martín Medina, Spinal Pathology Service, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos “José de San Martín”, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Martín Medina, MD. Spinal Pathology Service, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos “José de San Martín”, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nicolás Maximiliano Ciccioli, Clínica Privada Pueyrredón, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nicolás M. Ciccioli, MD. Clínica Privada Pueyrredón, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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