What’s Ankylosis?

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Ankylosis is a medical condition that occurs when bones fuse together in a joint. Fusion can be complete or partial and leads to severe motion stiffness. Symptoms of the condition include joint pain and limited range of motion. Ankylosis can be caused by various diseases, such as arthritis and some forms of gangrene, and can also be caused by traumatic injury and inflammation. The condition can occur anywhere in the body where bones meet at a joint.

With so many possible triggers for this condition, the exact underlying cause isn’t always well understood. The point where bones meet is called a joint. The bones should sit relatively loose in that joint, which allows for a full range of motion in areas such as the shoulders, knees, hips, and other bone-joint couplings. Ankylosis occurs when bones grow too much through a process known as ossification, the multiplication of bone cells. As bones grow through the joint, they fuse together, reducing the range of motion.

There are several common forms of the condition. One of the most common forms is ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint, where the jaw connects to the skull. It is usually caused by an infection, cancer, or as a complication of a traumatic injury that hasn’t healed properly. It can also be a congenital disorder.

Another form is ankylosing spondylitis, which affects the spine. It is a chronic condition that involves constant inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joint, a joint in the pelvis that supports the lower part of the spine. Left untreated, this condition can lead to the fusion of the spine with the pelvis, ending up with a loss of mobility in the spine. This particular form is usually genetic.

Treatment depends on the location of the disorder. In the jaw, simple jaw exercises may be prescribed to help reduce stiffness. Similar forms of physical therapy can also be used for mild cases of hip and knee ankylosis.

There are also medications that can treat the disorder, especially if the root cause is inflammation. Surgery can be used to remove excess bone growth. In some cases, if the doctor believes that the ankylosis will continue after the first bone mass is removed, a prosthetic bone may be implanted at the end of the joint.

It is also possible to create an artificial form of the condition. Doctors can induce bone growth across a joint, causing two bones to fuse together. Referred to as arthrodesis, it is used to help heal fractures and relieve the pain of arthritis. This procedure is typically only used if other forms of pain medication and joint replacements have failed.

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