Spinal fusion is when inflammation in the spine from ankylosing spondylitis causes the vertebrae to fuse together over time. This turns the spine from a flexible, dynamic set of bones into one immobile mass. Not only does it take away your range of motion, but spinal fusion also has other serious health effects on the body.
Nilasha Ghosh, MD, MS, is a board-certified Rheumatologist with expertise in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis, and musculoskeletal medicine.
References
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Waldman, S. K., et al. (2013). Diagnosing and managing spinal injury in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The Journal of Emergency Medicine.
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Werner, B. C., et al. (2016). Spinal fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, diagnosis, and management.The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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