Ankylosing spondylitis with fracture

Ankylosing spondylitis. This patient has longstanding AS. The cervical spine radiograph, left, was performed following a fall. It shows extensive ankylosis along the anterior aspects of the cervical vertebrae (yellow arrows), as well as fusion of the facet joints (white arrows). However, you will note that only C1 to C5 have been included on the radiograph, making it inadequate for trauma assessment. CT was therefore performed, right, and shows a fracture of C6 (arrow). The patient was left paraplegic.