Ankylosis is a disease that consists in the complete immobility of the joints. The reason for its appearance is pathological changes, most often caused due to injuries, arthritis or arthrosis. It appears gradually, at first the difficulties in the movement of the joints are not so noticeable, but over time they gradually lose their mobility completely.
Reasons
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 arose due to the fact that its surface 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 that ankylosis is a disease that can occur due to a long stay in a 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 in the first case, mobility is completely absent, and in the second case it is partially present. This is due to the fact that in fibrous ankylosis there is a small layer of fibrous tissue between the ends of the joints, which may contain remnants of cartilage.
There is also a division into complete and incomplete ankylosis. With complete joints, they are completely immobilized and there is no way to change this, and with incomplete, there is a slight mobility, which, most likely, can be developed and increased.
Contracture
Contracture is a deterioration in joint mobility. This is due to damage to the soft tissues, which leads to a change in the functions of the joint, that is, immobility. In simple words, these are difficulties in bending or unbending, for example, arms or legs. Joint contracture is a very common disease that almost every person faces sooner or later in their life. Although the hands most often do not experience such heavy loads as the legs, anyway, even the slightest change in the motor function of the joints makes itself felt by the inconvenience of doing even the most familiar everyday things.
Contracture can be not only acquired, but also congenital. Congenital contracture is quite rare, since the main reason for its appearance is the underdevelopment of muscles. And acquired is a frequent occurrence, since it can appear due to injuries or inflammation. In addition, the cause of stiffness can be stress,as they damage the nervous system. That is why, under severe stress, people can jam their neck or, for example, the mobility of the legs becomes more difficult after a stroke. If the joint is in the wrong position for a long time (several weeks), then this can lead to irreversible consequences. Persistent immobility can develop into a disease such as ankylosis of the joint, a disease quite common and serious.
Symptoms
Ankylosis is a disease whose main defining feature is joint immobility. Everything else depends on the position in which the fixation of the limb occurred. For example, if this happened at the moment when the leg was in a bent state, then in the future it will lead to great difficulties when walking. And if the fixation occurred when the leg was in a slightly bent state or was completely straight, then everything is less scary, since in this case the person will be able to walk.
Fibrous ankylosis is accompanied by pain in the joints, although mobility is partially preserved. With bone ankylosis, there is neither mobility nor pain.
Ankylosis of the hip joint
Stiffness of the hip joints causes difficulty in walking and lameness. For women, in some cases, this can cause difficulty in sexual intercourse. The presence of pain is not an obligatory factor; in some cases, painful sensations may be present, and in others not. Bilateral ankylosis with straighteningposition, although it causes difficulties when walking, but still it is possible. In this case, it is necessary to move forward by alternately pushing forward either the left or the right half of the pelvis. If bilateral ankylosis is in a vicious position, then walking, unfortunately, is impossible.
Diagnosis
If you have any suspicions that you have ankylosis or contracture, you should immediately go for an examination. 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 state of the joints, a study of the medical history and a check of the affected joint for mobility. After examination by a specialist, the patient is sent to take an x-ray. The patient also needs to undergo magnetic resonance and computed tomography.
Treatment
Treatment of ankylosis has two ways: conservative and operational. His choice is influenced by the type of disease and tests. But in any case, treatment should be started as early as possible. In addition, it must be complex.
With conservative treatment, the main goal is the complete restoration 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 that are in a plaster cast, manual therapy, taking nonsteroidal drugs that willprevent inflammation, therapeutic massage. Pain suppressants and hormones are also often prescribed with this method of treatment.
For the complexity of treatment, various methods of physiotherapy are most often prescribed, such as electrophoresis, sinusoidally simulated currents (SMT) and ultra-high frequency therapy (UHF). Thanks to this, swelling, inflammation, pain disappear, and mobility returns more efficiently.
If the joint is not completely immobile, that is, the ankylosis has a fibrous form, then the treatment of ankylosis of the joint can take place due to the implementation of rocking movements. But this procedure must be accompanied by anesthesia, as the pain is quite strong. In addition, with fibrous ankylosis, surgical intervention is also acceptable, namely arthroplasty, in which the joints are separated, new articular surfaces are created, and plastic tissue pads are placed between them. If the whole problem lies in the inconvenience of the position of the limb, then this can be corrected by straightening the limb. If, nevertheless, the case is complicated and the diagnosis is "ankylosis", implants are what, most likely, awaits the patient.
Prevention
In order for joint damage not to develop into ankylosis, it is necessary to start treatment in a timely manner and in no case neglect this problem. Otherwise, the situation will only worsen and the situation will become even more serious. Treatment should include specific exercises and medications.
Therapeuticgymnastics is a very important point. It helps to restore the affected joint through certain movements that develop it. In addition, the exercise will help prevent damage to neighboring joints. Also, periodic physiotherapy procedures, massage and treatment in specialized spa resorts will not interfere.
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 arose due to the fact that its surface 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 that ankylosis is a disease that can occur due to a long stay in a cast. There are also cases when ankylosis becomes a consequence of a surgical infection in the treatment of some other disease.
