Spinal cord injury in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: Complications with atypical course: Case report

Ünlü Şakaci I., Ersöz M., Tunç H., Firat M., AKKUŞ S.

Journal of Rheumatology and Medical Rehabilitation, vol.21, no.1, pp.17-20, 2010 (Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Journal Name: Journal of Rheumatology and Medical Rehabilitation
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.17-20
  • Keywords: Ossification, heterotopic, Pressure ulcer, Spinal cord injuries, Spondylitis, ankylosing
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that increase susceptibility to vertebral column fractures and spinal cord injury because of the abnormal spinal biomechanics. Some complications may develop more frequently, more severely and in atypical forms in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and spinal cord injury. For underlining these spesific features here we present a 36 years old male patient with ankylosing spondylitis who developed T4 complete spinal cord injury following a motor vehicle accident and complicated with bilateral knee heterotopic ossification, lower thoracic-upper lumbar and sacral pressure sores and restrictive respiratory dysfunction. As complications negatively affect the recovery and rehabilitation process and increase mortality and morbidity, monitoring patients with ankylosing spondylitis and spinal cord injury strictly for such possible complications and planning preventive approaches seems reasonable. Copyright © 2010 by Türk Tibbi Rehabilitasyon Kurumu Derneǧi.