Treatment of Cervical Cord Injury in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Cervical cord injury in patient with ankylosing spondylitis frequently occurs despite of minor trauma, such as slip down injury in drunken state or minor motor-vehicle accident. The level of cord injury is usually at lower cervical and upper thoracic area. The treatments and combined complications in ankylosing spondylitis patients are quite different from other spinal cord injuries. We report four cases of cervical cord injuries in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Two among 4 patients expired due to sepsis caused by chest problem, and the others recovered after surgery.