[Cervical pedicle screw in the treatment of cervical fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of cervical pedicle screw in the treatment of cervical fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis.

METHODS

A retrospective study was done in 5 patients of cervical fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis who were treated with cervical pedicle screw. According to Frankel's standard, 1 patient was in Grade A, 2 patients in Grade B and 1 patient in Grade C and 1 patient in Grade D. All patients were treated with decompression, fusion and posterior fixation with cervical pedicle screw.

RESULTS

The average bony healing time was 3.6 months (3.1 to approximately 4.5 months). The instrumentation was not loose, pulled-out or ruptured. Only one C6 pedide was perforated and the vertebral artery was broken, but there was no new postoperative symptom. Three of the patients with neurological deficits improved postoperatively but the other two who were in Grade A were remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

The good biomechanical characteristics of cervical pedicle screw help the successful treatment in the application of cervical fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis.