SPINAL-CORD INJURY OCCURRING IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - A MULTICENTER STUDY

Treatment of spinal fractures causing paralysis in patients with ankyl osing spondylitis is difficult, A multicenter concurrent study evaluat ed 59 patients-22 managed operatively and 37 nonoperatively, The two g roups were compared for neurologic outcome, complications, mortality, and length of stay, The results indicated that patients in the nonoper ative group had a significantly shorter length of stay and, therefore, a significantly lower cost of care, No other differences between oper ative and nonoperative groups were identified in regard to other outco me variables, Results of descriptive analyses of patient characteristi cs and treatment choices have significant implications for practitione rs.