Hey Steve,
From some of the more recent research and the sub B-27 genes they claim they are seeing the association of one of the sub genes in the people who fuse more than others. My thoughts on this are only time will tell.
Since AS affects everyone different there is no way for us to tell, but I know other people who have fused joints other then the spine and neck. Only three of my lowest vertebrae are fused but every vertebrae shows nodules or tumors throughout my spine with no signs of them trying to fuse yet. My ankle has been giving me a fit and keeps locking up, I sit or lay for hours rotating it by hand and can feel the AS has been working hard on it. The doctor's told me in 1990 I would need left hip replacement because of the AS. I also had a major MI (heart attack) in January 2003, but had never had high blood pressure nor high cholestrol.
So I think your guess is as good as a lot of the rest of us as to the totals of complete spine fusion.
Have a good one,
Brent
