ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS COMPLICATED BY TRAUMA - MR FINDINGS CORRELATEDWITH PLAIN RADIOGRAPHS AND CT

Four patients with ankylosing spondylitis sustained a traumatic spinal injury. In three cases, pseudoarthrosis developed at the discovertebr al junction, while involvement of the neural arch occurred in the four th. Although the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis was readily estab ished on plain radiographs, magnetic resonance more effectively identi fied the complicating injury and in two cases demonstrated the presenc e of cord compression. Computed tomography was also contributory in de lineating bony and ligamentous abnormalities of the neural arch.