J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2016 Apr;27(2):206-209. 10.0000/jksem.2016.27.2.206.

Bursting Fracture of the Thoracic Spine in Ankylosing Spondylitis: No Visible in Standard Radiograph

• Shin MC
• Ohk TG
• Cho JH
• Moon JB
• Park CW
• Yang GE
• Kim MS
• Lee JM

• KMID: 2164251
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2016.27.2.206

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.

Keyword

Ankylosing spondylitis; Spinal fracture; Unstable fracture; Radiologic diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Humans
Spinal Fractures
Spine*
Spondylitis, Ankylosing*