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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2023; 27(05): 491-498
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1770136
Review Article

Complications of the Rigid Spine

Filip M. Vanhoenacker 
1   Department of Radiology, AZ Sint-Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium
2   Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
3   Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp and Ghent, Belgium
4   Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium
,
Charlotte Vanhoenacker 
1   Department of Radiology, AZ Sint-Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium
,
Radhesh Lalam 
5   Department of Radiology, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, England, United Kingdom
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Abstract

We present a short overview of the most common causes and imaging findings of a rigid spine including long-standing spondylarthritis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and the less common ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. The article also focuses on the pathogenesis and imaging findings of acute complications of the rigid spine due to fractures. These fractures may occur even after minor trauma and are difficult to detect on initial radiographs, resulting in a delayed diagnosis. They are often unstable with a high risk of severe neurologic complications, leading to high morbidity and mortality both in the initial phase and in the months following the fracture. Because the negative predictive value of conventional radiography is low, every patient with a rigid spine with newly appearing pain should be referred for subsequent cross-sectional imaging.

Keywords

spine - ankylosis - complications - magnetic resonance imaging - computed tomography


Publication History

Article published online:
10 October 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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