Abstract
We present a short overview of the most common causes and imaging findings of a rigid
spine including long-standing spondylarthritis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis,
and the less common ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. The article
also focuses on the pathogenesis and imaging findings of acute complications of the
rigid spine due to fractures. These fractures may occur even after minor trauma and
are difficult to detect on initial radiographs, resulting in a delayed diagnosis.
They are often unstable with a high risk of severe neurologic complications, leading
to high morbidity and mortality both in the initial phase and in the months following
the fracture. Because the negative predictive value of conventional radiography is
low, every patient with a rigid spine with newly appearing pain should be referred
for subsequent cross-sectional imaging.
Keywords
spine - ankylosis - complications - magnetic resonance imaging - computed tomography
