VERTEBRAL WEDGE OSTEOTOMY. CORRECTION OF RHEUMATOID (ANKYLOSING) SPONDYLITIS.

Rheumatoid (ankylosing) spondylitis occurs infrequently in women, in whom it appears to run a milder course. Though a rigid lumbar kyphosis is a common sequela of ankylosing spondylitis, only a small number of patients require osteotomy of the spine. The case is presented of a young woman on whom wedge osteotomy was performed successfully. A method of posterior vertebral body wedge resection for correction of lumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is described. The method consists of resection of a portion of the posterior neural elements, lumbar disc, and vertebral body with subsequent manipulation of the spine into extension. The principle of the modified surgical method prevents lengthening of the lumbar spine, thus eliminating stretching and injury to juxtaposed organs.

[1]  N. Dilşen,et al.  A comparative roentgenologic study of rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid (ankylosing) spondylitis. , 1962, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[2]  H. Julkunen.  Rheumatoid spondylitis. Clinical and laboratory study of 149 cases compared with 182 cases of rheumatoid arthritis. , 1962, Acta rheumatologica Scandinavica. Supplementum.

[3]  I. F. Duff,et al.  Rheumatoid (ankylosing) spondylitis. , 1961, The Medical clinics of North America.

[4]  A. Dixon,et al.  Sacro-iliac Joint in Adult Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthropathy * , 1961, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[5]  Calabro Jj.  A therapeutic approach to rheumatoid spondylitis. , 1960 .

[6]  B. Cruickshank.  Pathology of ankylosing spondylitis. , 1960, Bulletin on the rheumatic diseases.

[7]  W. Law.  LUMBAR SPINAL OSTEOTOMY , 1959 .

[8]  J. Herbert.  Vertebral osteotomy for kyphosis, especially in Marie-Strumpell arthritis; a report on fifty cases. , 1959, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[9]  F. Hart,et al.  Ankylosing Spondylitis in Women , 1959, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[10]  R. M. Mason,et al.  A comparative radiological study of Reiter's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. , 1959, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[11]  E. Easson,et al.  Deep X-ray Therapy in Spondylitis , 1954, British medical journal.

[12]  T. L. Tyson,et al.  Marie-Strümpell Spondylitis in Women , 1953, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[13]  J. Adams.  Technique, dangers and safeguards in osteotomy of the spine. , 1952, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[14]  Herbert Jj.  Vertebral osteotomy; technique, indications and results. , 1948 .

[15]  E. H. La CHAPELLE.  Osteotomy of the lumbar spine for correction of kyphosis in a case of ankylosing spondylarthritis. , 1946, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.