Operation choices for cervical spinal fracture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Objective To investigate outcomes of different operations in treatment of cervical spinal fracture in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and summarize experiences and bases in selection of operation.Methods A retrospective study was done on 19 patients with cervical spinal fracture following ankylosing spondylitis treated between 2005 and 2011 and received complete follow-up.Among them,nine patients were treated with combined anterior and posterior surgical approach (combined treatment group),seven with single posterior surgical approach (posterior approach group) and three with single anterior surgical approach (anterior approach group).Clinical data,follow-up data and image outcome of the patients were collected and compared.Results All patients received average 14 months of follow-up (range,12-20 months).In combined treatment group,the fracture was healed at postoperative 4-6 months.One patient had palsy of recurrent laryngal nerve but was recovered at postoperative three months.Seven patients with incomplete spinal cord injury had at least one level improvement in neurological function according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification.No implant loosening or shifting were found in internal fixation.In posterior approach group,fracture was healed at postoperative 4-6 months,with no surgical complications,loosening or shifting of implants.Five patients with incomplete spinal cord injury had at least one level improvement in neurological function according to ASIA classification.In anterior approach group,an additional operation for implant loosening was performed in one patient at postoperative four weeks.The other two patients obtained fracture healing at postoperative four and five months respectively,without implant loosening.Condusions Combined anterior and posterior approaches can not only be the first choice for treatment of cervical spinal fracture following ankylosing spondylitis,but also be used for patients with bone defect at fracture site or separation at fracture end,with no necessity of postoperative external fixation.Single posterior reduction and fixation can be considered in patients with transvertebral fracture in the absence of bone defect,separation at fracture end,displacement or slight displacement,with necessary postoperative external fixation.However,single anterior fixation takes risk of implant failure and needs postoperative external fixation. Key words: Spinal fractures; Cervical vertebrae; Spondylitis, ankylosing; Internal fixators