Review

Pitfalls and complications in the treatment of cervical spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Christoph-E Heyde¹ , Johannes K Fakler¹ , Erik Hasenboehler² , Philip F Stahel² , Thilo John¹ , Yohan Robinson³ , Sven K Tschoeke¹ and Ralph Kayser¹

¹  Department of Trauma, Orthopedics, and Reconstructive Surgery, Charité, University Medical Center, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany

²  Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, 777 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204, USA

³  Department of Orthopaedics, Academic Hospital, Uppsala University, 751 52 Uppsala, Sweden

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Patient Safety in Surgery 2008, 2:15doi:10.1186/1754-9493-2-15

Published:	6 June 2008

Abstract

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are at significant risk for sustaining cervical spine injuries following trauma predisposed by kyphosis, stiffness and osteoporotic bone quality of the spine. The risk of sustaining neurological deficits in this patient population is higher than average. The present review article provides an outline on the specific injury patterns in the cervical spine, diagnostic algorithms and specific treatment modalities dictated by the underlying disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. An emphasis is placed on the risks and complication patterns in the treatment of these rare, but challenging injuries.