Spinal Cord Injury-an Unusual Presentation for Advanced Asymptomatic Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis affects the axial skeleton over many years, predisposing to osteoporosis and subsequent fractures. However, very rarely, it can be incidentally discovered in spinal cord injury cases.

A 44-year-old male veteran who had previously been well and asymptomatic presented with paraparesis secondary to fractured dorsal vertebrae 10 and 11, following fall from a height. He had been referred to our institute for rehabilitation after surgical fixation of his vertebral fractures. X-rays of his spine, done after the injury brought to light the incidental finding of advanced ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis can be asymptomatic in a minority of patients, highlighting the importance of keeping a high index of suspicion, especially in patients presenting with vertebral fractures with/without spinal cord injury following relatively minor trauma.