Ankylosis is what? Treatment of the disease

Ankylosis is a disease that consists in complete immobility of the joints. The reason for its appearance is pathological changes, caused most often due to injuries, arthritis or arthrosis. It manifests itself gradually, at first the difficulties in the movement of the joints are not so noticeable, but eventually they gradually lose their mobility.

Causes

There are several reasons for the appearance of such a disease as ankylosis of the joint. One of the most common is inflammation of the joints, that is, arthritis or arthrosis. Also, the cause may be a fracture inside the joint, which is due to the fact that its surface has collapsed, or an open injury with the release of pus, which leads to the destruction of the surface of the joint. In addition, it turns out, ankylosis - a disease that can occur due to a long stay in the cast. There are also cases when ankylosis becomes a consequence of a surgical infection in the treatment of some other disease.

Varieties

Ankylosis can be divided into two groups: bone and fibrous. Their main difference is that with the former, the mobility is completely absent, and in the latter case is partially present. This is due to the fact that in fibrotic ankylosis between the ends of the joints is a small layer of fibrous tissue, which can contain the remains of cartilage.

There is also a division into complete and incomplete ankylosis. With full joints completely immobilized and this already does not change, and with incomplete there is a slight mobility, which, most likely, can be developed and increased.

Contracture

Contracture is the deterioration of joint mobility. This is due to damage to the soft tissues, which leads to a change in the function of the joint, that is, lack of mobility. In simple words, these are difficulties in bending or unbending, for example, hands or feet. Contracture of joints is a very common disease, which sooner or later almost everyone experiences in their lives. Although the hands most often do not experience such heavy loads as the feet, all the same, even the slightest changes in the motor function of the joints make itself felt the inconvenience of doing even the most common everyday things.

Contracture can be not only acquired, but also congenital. Congenital contracture is rare, since the main cause of its appearance is underdevelopment of muscles. And acquired - this is a frequent phenomenon, since it can appear due to injuries or inflammations. In addition, the cause of stiffness may become stress, as they damage the nervous system. That is why, under severe stress, people may wedge their neck or, for example, the mobility of the legs after a stroke becomes more complicated. If the joint is in the wrong position for a long time (several weeks), it can lead to irreversible consequences. Persistent immobility can develop into a disease such as ankylosis of the joint, the disease is often frequent and serious.

Symptoms

Ankylosis is a disease whose main determining feature is the immobility of the joints. All the rest depends on the position of the fixation of the limb. For example, if this happened at the moment when the leg was in a bent state, then in the future it would lead to great difficulties when walking. And if the fixation occurred, when the leg was in a slightly bent state or was completely straight, it's all the less frightening, since in this case a person will be able to walk.

Fibrous ankylosis is accompanied by pain in the joints, although the mobility is partially preserved. With bone ankylosis there is no mobility, no pain.

Ankylosis of the hip joint

The immobility of the joints of the hip region causes difficulties in walking and lameness. In women, in some cases, this can cause difficulties in the sexual intercourse. The presence of pain is not an obligatory factor, in some cases painful sensations may be present, and in some there is not. Double-sided ankylosis when straightened, although it causes difficulties in walking, but still it is possible. Moving in this case, it is necessary to alternate forward the left or right half of the pelvis. If bilateral ankylosis is in a vicious position, then walking, unfortunately, is impossible.

Diagnostics

If you have any suspicions that you have ankylosis or contracture, you should immediately go to the examination. Handling such questions should be addressed to a surgeon or traumatologist. The examination includes an analysis of the patient's complaints and answers to questions about the condition of the joints, the study of the medical history and the examination of the affected joint for mobility. After examining the specialist, the patient is sent to take an X-ray. The patient also needs to undergo magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.

Treatment

Treatment of ankylosis has two ways: conservative and operative. His choice is affected by a variety of diseases and tests. But in any case, proceed to treatment should be as soon as possible. In addition, it must be comprehensive.

With conservative treatment, the main goal is a complete resumption of joint mobility, normalization of its functions, elimination of pain and muscle recovery. The conservative way of treatment includes special gymnastics, which is aimed at alternating tension of the limbs, which are in a plaster bandage, manual therapy, the adoption of non-steroid drugs that will prevent inflammation, therapeutic massage. Also, with this method of treatment, it is often prescribed the administration of pain suppressants and hormones.

For complex treatment, various methods of physiotherapy, such as electrophoresis, sinusoidal modulated currents (CMT) and ultrahigh-frequency therapy (UHF), are most often prescribed. Due to this, there is swelling, inflammation, pain, and also mobility returns more efficiently.

If the joint is not completely immobile, that is, ankylosis has a fibrous shape, then the treatment of joint ankylosis can proceed through the implementation of swinging movements. But this procedure should be accompanied by anesthesia, since the pain is strong enough. In addition, with fibrotic ankylosis, surgical intervention is also possible, namely arthroplasty, in which joints are separated, new articular surfaces are created, and spacers are placed between them from plastic tissue. If the whole problem is the inconvenience of the position of the limb, then this can be rectified by straightening the limb. If, after all, the case is complex and diagnosed with ankylosis, implants are what most likely awaits the patient.

Prevention

In order to damage the joint did not develop into ankylosis, it is necessary to start treatment in time and not to neglect this problem in any case. Otherwise, the situation will only worsen and the situation will become even more serious. Treatment should include the implementation of special exercises, the adoption of medicines.

Medical gymnastics is a very important point. It helps to restore the affected joint due to certain movements that develop it. In addition, performing exercises will prevent the defeat of neighboring joints. Also, do not interfere with periodic procedures of physiotherapy, massage and treatment in specialized sanatoriums.

There are several reasons for the appearance of such a disease as ankylosis of the joint. One of the most common is inflammation of the joints, that is, arthritis or arthrosis. Also, the cause may be a fracture inside the joint, which is due to the fact that its surface is destroyed, or an open injury with the release of pus, which leads to the destruction of the surface of the joint. In addition, it turns out, ankylosis - a disease that can occur because of a long stay in the cast. There are also cases when ankylosis becomes a consequence of a surgical infection in the treatment of some other disease.