Chalk-Stick Fracture in Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Report of Cervical Spine Injury Following Minor Trauma

We describe the case of a 74-year-old male with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who presented to the Emergency Department for evaluation of acutely worsened left-sided weakness following a fall from standing. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his cervical spine revealed a chalk-stick fracture of C5-C7, which required surgical intervention. Chalk-stick fractures are rare, typically occurring in patients with AS, and often occurring from low-energy mechanisms. In the acute setting, providers should maintain a low threshold for obtaining CT or MRI imaging to evaluate spinal injury in patients with AS.