A Novel Classification of Cervical Spine Trauma in Ankylosing Spondylitis and Corresponding Surgical Outcomes

This study introduces a new way to classify cervical spine injuries in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a condition causing spine stiffness and increased fracture risk. The classification considers how the injury happened and its features, aiming to improve treatment decisions and communication among doctors. The classification divides injuries into three main types: single level fracture-dislocation, spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation, and Andersson lesion. Subtypes are further defined based on whether the cervical spine is completely fused and the location of the injury. Different surgical methods, including anterior and posterior approaches, were used based on the injury type. The study found that posterior cervical laminectomy decompression and fusion (PCLDF) was the most common surgical method.

• 1
  The study enrolled 102 patients, with single level fracture-dislocation (type 1) being the most common trauma type, accounting for 86 patients.
• 2
  PCLDF was the most commonly used surgical method across all trauma types, while ACCF was only applied once.
• 3
  Postoperatively, 21 patients achieved neurological function improvement. The incidences of general and surgery-related complications were 19.6% and 5.9%, respectively.