Discovertebral (Andersson) lesion of the Ankylosing Spondylitis, a cause of autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency in spinal cord injury. Majority of cases of autonomic dysreflexia are known to be induced by either bladder or bowel distension. Very few cases of recurrent postural autonomic dysreflexia, due to secondary spinal pathology, have been reported. Discovertebral or Andersson lesion, a recognized complication in Ankylosing Spondylitis, can give rise to similar kind of recurrent postural dysreflexic symptoms. Here, we report a case of Ankylosing Spondylitis with high level, complete spinal cord injury, where the patient was developing recurrent postural autonomic dysreflexia and its successful management. Andersson lesion in the lumbar spine below the level of injury was demonstrated in this case report.