Description
In this educational session, orthopedic spine surgeon Andrew Frost discusses inflammatory spine conditions, focusing primarily on ankylosing spondylitis (ANK Spond). He begins by explaining the common symptoms and demographic characteristics of the disease, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis in younger patients with persistent low back pain. Frost details the diagnostic challenges and the role of rheumatologists in managing these cases. He highlights key imaging findings, including sacroiliitis and Romanus lesions, and discusses the implications of high-risk factors like HLA-B27.
Frost also touches upon surgical considerations for patients with ankylosing spondylitis who experience spinal trauma. He warns against the risks of misdiagnosing these patients when they present with fractures, underlining the need for careful imaging to rule out serious injuries. Through a clinical case of an elderly female patient who suffered a fracture after a minor fall, Frost illustrates the potential consequences of delayed or incorrect management of spinal conditions in patients with pre-existing anatomical abnormalities.
The presentation shifts focus to rheumatoid arthritis, elaborating on its impacts on cervical spine conditions, such as atlantoaxial subluxation and basilar invagination, which lead to cervical myelopathy. Frost emphasizes the nonspecific nature of myelopathy symptoms, urging the audience to maintain a high index of suspicion for these conditions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and to consider timely imaging and surgical interventions when necessary. He wraps up the talk with key take-home messages regarding the intersection of inflammatory spine diseases and surgical management, especially in trauma scenarios.