Presentation
Fell and hit his head.
Patient Data
Syndesmophytes, ankylosed cervical facet joints, and ankylosis of many of the uncovertebral joints.
Fracture through all of the above at the level of C5-C6, with widening of the intervertebral disc space but no evidence of gross spinal cord trauma (e.g. extradural or intramedullary hemorrhage).
Ankylosed costovertebral and costotransverse joints.
Case Discussion
Known, long-standing diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Fell from standing height and bumped his head, thereby causing an extension injury to the neck. Instead of just a disruption of the anterior longitudinal ligament in a normal neck, if that, this manifested in the patient's rigid spine as a pathological fracture through the ankyloses between two cervical vertebrae, i.e. the path of least resistance.