Abstract
Andersson lesion is a destructive vertebral or discovertebral lesion that occurs as a late noninflamatory episode in ankylosing spondylitis. The lesion was first reported by in 1937. Since then many cases have been reported.
Highlights
Incidence of this lesion has been reported about 5% [1,2] but other series have reported higher incidence (17%).Dihlmann W and Delling G [3] and Cawley et al [4] have attempted a classification into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types
Histopathological findings in eight specimens showing extensive discovertebral destructive lesions collected from 35 patients with ankylosing spondylitis
The disc was replaced by fibrous tissue and/or fibrocartilage showing moderate to severe fibrinoid necrosis and cystic degeneration. Such changes are characteristic of pseudarthrosis, which may follow either fracture or degeneration of the disc perpetuated by abnormal stress and motion
Summary
Incidence of this lesion has been reported about 5% [1,2] but other series have reported higher incidence (17%). Neurological complications resulting from discovertebral destruction have rarely been reported despite sometimes extensive radiological changes [5] and the severity of symptoms does not always correlate with the severity of pseudarthroses [6] This is the case of a 35 years old male that was diagnosed from AS at the age of 23. Radiological control demonstrated increased destruction around the disc L1-L2 with a significant segmental kyphosis of 25 degrees at that level (Figure 2). One year after surgery the patient continues free of pain, very satisfied with the result and the last control shows a minor collapse of the anterior column with an acceptable segmental kyphosis of 5 degrees (Figures 4 and 5)
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