Wedge Osteotomy of the Spine in Elderly Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report

As a result of severe deformity caused by ankylosing spondylitis, patients may be able to see only a few feet beyond their toes. Several surgical methods have been used for treating deformities caused by ankylosing spondylitis. Reported cases were operated on before the age of 50 years. We surgically treated a patient aged 72 years. Wedge osteotomy in the lumbar region was carried out and a manipulative procedure achieved good correction, but we abandoned instrumentation because of marked osteoporosis. He received further bone grafting due to delayed union and following surgery was able to see straight ahead. No major complications such as rupture of the great vessels occurred during surgery.