HomeCasesChalkstick fracture in ankylosing spondylitis
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XRMusculoskeletalConfirmedFRCR 2B

Chalkstick fracture in ankylosing spondylitis

120 views5Adulty Male10/9/2026

Background of ankylosing spondylitis. Severe pain in back following a light fall.

  • 1Both views show classic signs of ankylosing spondylitis:dagger spine sign of continuous ossification of the interspinous and supraspinous ligamentssquared vertebral bodiesbamboo spine sign due to continuous syndesmophytesfused sacroiliac jointsThe dagger is broken on the AP view indicating a fracture at this location
  • 2The lateral view confirms this
  • 3The CT confirms a three-column fracture at L3 level and the other signs of ankylosing spondylitis.