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Table 2 Hehne und Zielke classification in ankylosing spondylitis [9].

From: Pitfalls and complications in the treatment of cervical spine fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Type

Definition

Syndesmophyte characteristics

Synonymes

I

Dorsal ossification

Simple ossification of the dorsal spine bodies, no syndesmophytes

Spondylathritis type

Iia

Incomplete anular ossification

Tender, the anulus fibrosus ventrally with or without lateral syndesmophytes, without overlapping of the vertebral bodies (incomplete)

Anulus-type

Iib

Complete anular ossification

As type IIa, but with syndesmophytes overlapping the vertebral disc (complete)

Anulus-type

IIIa

Partial ostotic ossification

Thick and wide syndesmophytes, often with cortical- and spongiosa structure, corresponding the bamboo-type, but not present in all segments (incomplete)

Ligament/sub-ligament type

IIIb

Total ostotic ossification

As type IIIa, but several thoracic and lumbar segments are affected

Bamboo-spine