Bamboo spine appearance in lumbar radiograph is seen in:

Ref: Internet Source: htfp://radiopaedia.org/ankies/ bamboo_spineExplanation:A bamboo spine is a radiographic feature seen in ankylosing spondylitisIt occurs as a result of vertebral body fusion by marginal syndesmophytes.It is accompanied by fusion of the posterior vertebral elements.A bamboo spine typically involves the thoracolumbar and or lumbosacral junctions and predisposes to unstable vertebral fractures and Anderson lesions.In bamboo spine, the outer fibers of the annulus flbrosus of the intervertebral discs ossify, which results in the formation of marginal syndesmophytes between adjoining vertebral bodies.The resulting radiographic appearance therefore is that of thin, curved, radio-opaque spicules that completely bridge adjoining vertebral bodies.There is also accompanying squaring of the anterior vertebral body margins with associated reactive sclerosis of the vertebral body margins (shiny corner sign).All these give the impression of undulating continuous lateral spinal borders on AP spinal radiographs and resemble a bamboo stem.