RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Minimally Invasive Surgery for Thoracolumbar Spinal Fractures in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 8478
DO 10.14444/8478
A1 Wänman, Johan
A1 Burmeister, Fabian
A1 Thorell, David
A1 Kyrk, Tobias
A1 Blixt, Simon
A1 Gerdhem, Paul
A1 Mukka, Sebastian
A1 Bobinski, Lukas
YR 2023
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/early/2023/05/31/8478.abstract
AB Background Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are prone to spinal fractures even after low-energy trauma. Posterior fusion through open surgery has been the standard procedure for spinal fractures in patients with AS. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been proposed as an alternative treatment option. There are few literature reports regarding patients with AS being treated for spinal fractures with MIS. This study aims to present the clinical outcome of a series of patients with AS treated with MIS for spinal fractures.Methods We included a consecutive series of patients with AS who underwent MIS for thoracolumbar fractures between 2014 and 2021. The median follow-up was 38 (12–75) months. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed, and data on surgery, reoperations, complications, fracture healing, and mortality were recorded.Results Forty-three patients (39 [91%] men) were included with a median (range) age of 73 (38–89) years. All patients underwent image-guided MIS with screws and rods. Three patients underwent reoperations, all due to wound infections. One patient (2%) died within 30 days and 7 (16%) died within the first year after surgery. Most patients with a radiographic follow-up of 12 months or more (29/30) healed with a bony fusion on computed tomography (97%).Conclusion Patients with AS and a spinal fracture are at risk of reoperation and have significant mortality during the first year. MIS provides adequate surgical stability for fracture healing with an acceptable number of complications and is an adequate choice in treating AS-related spinal fractures.Level of Evidence 4