Bursting Fracture of the Thoracic Spine in Ankylosing Spondylitis: No Visible in Standard Radiograph.
- Author:
Myoung Chul SHIN
1
;
Taek Geun OHK
;
Jun Hwi CHO
;
Joong Bum MOON
;
Chan Woo PARK
;
Go Eun YANG
;
Min Soo KIM
;
Jae Min LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Kangwon National University Hospital, Kangwondo, Korea. otgotg11@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Ankylosing spondylitis;
Spinal fracture;
Unstable fracture;
Radiologic diagnosis
- MeSH:
Humans;
Spinal Fractures;
Spine*;
Spondylitis, Ankylosing*
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2016;27(2):206-209
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are at high risk for spinal fracture even after a minor injury. Most spinal fractures with ankylosing spondylitis occur in the cervical spine, whereas spinal fractures in thoracic or lumbar spine are rare. These fractures are often difficult to detect on standard radiographs, because the normal anatomical landmarks are lacking and the abnormal spinal stiffness precludes optimal exposure of the spine. We report on a case of a 12th thoracic spine fracture in ankylosing spondylitis with bamboo spine after a minor injury. In this case, anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine showed a bamboo spine typical for ankylosing spondylitis with no evidence of fracture. However, computed tomography showed a 12th thoracic fracture with burst. Therefore, this fracture, in a patient with AS involved all three spinal columns, was considered unstable.
