Surgical treatment of spinal deformity in spodyloarthritis

Abstract

    Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is an inflammatory disease which affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, causing inflammatory back pain. This includes ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, the arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The Chronic inflammation causes progressive ossification of the spinal ligaments resulting in a rigid thoracolumbar kyphosis. Severe thoracolumbar kyphosis prevents the head from adopting a straight position. The surgical treatment is recommended to restore the sagittal balance and improve the quality of life in patients with severe thoracolumbar kyphosis. Spinal pseudoarthrosis is less common, causing severe pain and a progressive spinal kyphotic deformity. Therefore, most patients with spinal pseudoarthrosis require the surgical treatment. A major surgery in SpA is spinal corrective osteotomy, carrying increased technical demands. The appropriate timing of surgery is important to minimize the risk for complications and yields satisfactory surgical results.