Ankylosing Spondylitis
Chronic inflammatory seronegative spondyloarthropathy primarily affecting the axial skeleton
Anatomy / Structural Changes
Progressive inflammation of:
1- Sacroiliac joints
2- Spine
Leads to:
1- Vertebral body squaring
2- Syndesmophyte formation
3- Progressive spinal rigidity
Characteristic Appearance
1- “Bamboo spine” due to fused vertebrae
2- Loss of normal spinal flexibility
Presentation, Diagnostic Features & Key Findings
Radiographic / Structural
1- Squared vertebral bodies
2- Syndesmophytes
3- “Bamboo spine”
4- Bilateral sacroiliitis
Genetic Association
HLA-B27 positive
Clinical Features
1- Chronic inflammatory back pain
2- Morning stiffness
3- Reduced spinal mobility
Treatment
Medical Management (Back Pain & Inflammation)
1- NSAIDs
2- Sulfasalazine
3- Immune-modulating medications (biologic agents)
Surgical Considerations — CAUTION
1- Airway management
2- Perform awake intubation
3- Rigid cervical spine increases risk during standard intubation
If instrumented fusion is required
Use long-segment fixation
Multiple fixation points recommended
Consider anterior and/or posterior instrumentation
Critical Reminder
Due to spinal rigidity:
Even minor trauma can cause severe spinal injury
Fracture-dislocation
High index of suspicion required in trauma patients