[Destructive changes in the spine during ankylosing spondylarthritis]

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Orthopedics
• Spinal Pathology

Background:

• Bekhterev's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition, primarily affects the axial skeleton.
• Spinal involvement in advanced Bekhterev's disease can lead to significant structural damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the characteristic destructive changes in vertebral bodies associated with advanced Bekhterev's disease.
• To detail the patterns of vertebral rearrangement and pseudoarthrosis in this condition.

Main Methods:

• Radiographic analysis of spinal changes in patients with advanced Bekhterev's disease.
• Histopathological examination of affected vertebral tissues (if applicable, based on abstract).

Main Results:

• Observed destructive changes predominantly in the thoracic vertebral bodies.
• Identified subligamentous destruction of vertebral anterior surfaces.
• Noted limited destruction in anterior intervertebral disc areas.
• Found superficial destruction of vertebral body plates leading to disc height reduction.
• Documented deep destruction of adjacent vertebral body surfaces causing intervertebral space expansion.

Conclusions:

• Advanced Bekhterev's disease leads to characteristic destructive vertebral changes, including pseudoarthrosis.
• These changes manifest as various forms of vertebral body and intervertebral disc destruction.
• The findings underscore the progressive nature of spinal pathology in Bekhterev's disease.