BACKGROUND: Kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis is the flexion deformity of spine sagittal plane in the late lesion; spinal osteotomy is the only treatment method.
OBJECTIVE: To review the methods and application of osteotomy on the correction of kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis.
METHODS: The Chinese Biomedical Literature database, CNKI database, China Academic Journals Full-text database, PubMed database and EMbase database were retrieved for articles published from January 2000 to December 2011 with keywords of “ankylosing spondylitis; kyphosis; osteotomy” in Chinese and English. Papers concerning methods, indications and effects of osteotomy on correction of kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis were included．
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The types of posterior spinal osteotomies include: opening wedge osteotomy, closing wedge osteotomy and closing-opening wedge osteotomy, which have been described and widely used. Polysegmental Smith-Petersen osteotomy, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, vertebral column resections and vertebral column decancellations are the most four methods of osteotomy for the correction of kyphotic deformity. The polysegmental Smith-Petersen osteotomy and pedicle subtraction osteotomy are most widely used two standardized orthopedic technology for the treatment of kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis, and the vertebral column resections and vertebral column decancellations are mainly used for the treatment of severe angular kyphosis with vertex limitations or wedging of the apical region. Different osteotomies have their own indications, operative technique and complications, so the appropriate osteotomy can help to correct the kyphotic deformity effectively.