Korean J Spine.  2016 Jun;13(2):80-82. 10.14245/kjs.2016.13.2.80.

Leading a Patient of Ankylosing Spondylitis to Death by Iatrogenic Spinal Fracture

• Oh JS
• Doh JW
• Shim JJ
• Lee KS

• KMID: 2328338
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2016.13.2.80

Abstract

Fractures in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are often difficult to identify and treat. If combined with osteoporosis, the spine becomes weaker and vulnerable to minor trauma. An 83-year-old woman with a history of chronic AS and severe osteoporosis developed paraparesis and voiding difficulty for 4 days prior. She had been placed in the lateral decubitus position in a bedridden state in a convalescent hospital due to the progressive paraparesis. The laboratory findings showed COâ‚‚ retention in the arterial blood gas analysis. After the patient was transferred to the computed tomography (CT) room, a CT was taken in the supine position. Approximately half an hour later, the resident in our neurosurgical department checked on her, and the neurological examination showed a complete paraplegic state. She was treated conservatively and finally expired 20 days later.

Keyword

Ankylosing spondylitis; Osteoporosis; Spine fractures

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Blood Gas Analysis
Female
Hospitals, Convalescent
Humans
Neurologic Examination
Osteoporosis
Paraparesis
Spinal Fractures*
Spine
Spondylitis, Ankylosing*
Supine Position