Double spinal cord injury in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 305 - 307
• Main Authors: AKMAN, M. N, KARATAS, M, KILINC, S, AGILDERE, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing 01.04.1999
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Spinal Cord Injuries - etiology; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - complications; Spondylitis, Ankylosing - pathology; Tropical medicine; Nervous system diseases; Spinal cord; Multiple; Spine; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Male; Inflammatory joint disease; Spine disease; Abortion; Trauma; Spondylarthropathy; Case study; Chronic; Central nervous system disease; Complication; Spinal cord disease; Ankylosing spondylitis
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.sc.3100754

Ankylosing spondylitis patients are more prone to spinal fractures and these fractures commonly result in mobile nonunion. We report a patient with a 30-year history of ankylosing spondylitis who sustained double spinal cord injuries following minor trauma. The first injury occurred at the lumbar level due to pseudoarthrosis of an old fracture, and the second at the thoracic level following cardiopulmonary arrest and an episode of hypotension. The possible mechanisms of the injuries are discussed and maintaining normal blood pressure in these patients is emphasized.