Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an underdiagnosed inflammatory condition in the initial stages of disease that can cause vertebral fractures in young adults after trivial trauma. Hence, low-energy spinal fractures in young patients must be carefully evaluated to exclude AS as the treatment protocol (fixation levels, period of immobilization) may change drastically if AS is diagnosed. Here, we present cases of 3 patients who presented at emergency after low-velocity spinal trauma and diagnosed as AS during workup for fracture management. This cases series indicates underdiagnosis of AS in general population as well as importance of strong suspicion of AS in low-energy spinal fractures in the younger age-group.
Case Rep Orthop Res 2021;4:173–179

中文翻译：

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脊柱骨折后强直性脊柱炎的回顾性诊断3例及临床意义

强直性脊柱炎 (AS) 是一种在疾病初始阶段未被充分诊断的炎症性疾病，可导致年轻成人在轻微创伤后发生椎骨骨折。因此，必须仔细评估年轻患者的低能量脊柱骨折以排除 AS，因为如果诊断出 AS，治疗方案（固定水平、固定时间）可能会发生巨大变化。在这里，我们介绍了 3 例患者，他们在低速脊柱外伤后急诊就诊，并在骨折管理检查期间诊断为 AS。该病例系列表明一般人群中 AS 的诊断不足，以及在年轻年龄组的低能量脊柱骨折中高度怀疑 AS 的重要性。
案例代表 Orthop Res 2021；4:173–179