Dagger sign (spine)

Last revised by Joachim Feger ◉ on 16 Aug 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Feger J, Niknejad M, et al. Dagger sign (spine). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 13 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1200

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-1200

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/1200?embed_domain=hackmd.io%25252525252F%252525252540yIPUAFeCSL2JsU8smR5nJQ%25252525252Fbnjhjgjghjghjghfavicon.ico

rID:

1200

Article created:

2 May 2008, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

16 Aug 2024, Joachim Feger ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Joachim Feger had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Joachim Feger's current disclosures

Revisions:

34 times, by 18 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Spine

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

dagger sign, spine, ankylosing spondylitis

Synonyms:

The dagger sign

The dagger sign is a radiographic feature seen in ankylosing spondylitis as a single central radiodense line on frontal radiographs running along the spinous processes ¹.

Related pathology

The dagger sign isrelated to the ossification of the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments secondary to enthesitis ². The radiodense line can extend into the sacrum ³. It is a late sign of ankylosing spondylitis and often appears alongside other classic signs, including bamboo spine.