Ankylosing spondylitis is an immune system disease, which mainly causes chronic and repeated inflammation in tendons and ligaments and other tissues, eventually leading to calcification. (Photo/photo by reporter Li Jiarong)
Reporter Jian Zhonghao/Comprehensive Report
Repeated inflammation of tendons and ligaments can easily lead to calcification, which may cause the spine to lose flexibility and become stiff, and eventually suffer from "bamboo pole disease"! A 47-year-old chef surnamed Weng has suffered from ankylosing spondylitis for more than 20 years, during which he has been treated with exercise and painkillers. Until 3 years ago, the pain in my waist and hip joints became more and more serious, and my movements were stiff and like a robot. Especially this year, both hip joints have completely lost mobility. I can't even sit like a normal person, so I sent him to a doctor immediately for treatment.
Huang Zanwen, director of the Department of Joint Reconstruction at Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, explained that ankylosing spondylitis is an immune system disease that mainly causes chronic and repeated inflammation in tendons, ligaments and other tissues, eventually leading to calcification. Since the main affected area is the spine, the calcified tendons and ligaments cause the spine to lose flexibility and become stiff. Patients often suffer from lower back pain and morning stiffness. The X-ray image looks like a bamboo pole, so it is also called "bamboo pole disease".
Symptoms can be improved through exercise and medication in the early stages. However, if the joints are severely damaged, artificial joint replacement is often needed to solve the problem. (Photo/Provided by Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital)
Huang Zanwen pointed out that among patients with ankylosing spondylitis, about 25 to 50% will invade the hip joint (90% of which are bilateral). These patients often experience hip pain, gradually limited mobility, a slight limp when walking, or even a completely bonded hip joint that makes it almost impossible to move. Symptoms can be improved through exercise and drug control in the early stages, but if the joints are severely damaged, artificial joint replacement is often needed to solve the problem.
Huang Zanwen also said that in addition to orthopedic surgeons, the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis also requires cross-team cooperation from rheumatology and immunology, cardiology, rehabilitation and anesthesiology. Especially when such patients require surgery, it can be said to be a considerable pressure on orthopedics and anesthesiologists. Because the patient's spine is stiff or even deformed, preparations such as anesthesia and surgical positioning and disinfection alone take a lot of time. In addition, patients often suffer from muscle atrophy, soft tissue adhesion, and osteoporosis due to long-term pain, joint stiffness, and inability to move. Surgery is much more difficult than ordinary artificial joint replacement. Sometimes minimally invasive surgery cannot be used reluctantly, otherwise it will increase the chance of surgical complications.
Exercises such as swimming and stretching can strengthen the flexibility of the back muscles and abdomen and maintain physical fitness, which can improve the adhesion of the hip joint. (Picture/taken from free gallery Pixabay)
Huang Zanwen reminded that possible complications after surgery include hip dislocation, loosening, infection, venous emboli, neurovascular damage and the occurrence of metaplastic bone. The literature pointed out that some patients After surgery, metaplastic bone may appear near the hip joint, affecting joint mobility. But he also said that as long as you continue to follow up and receive treatment under the advice of the medical team after the operation, continue to stretch your muscles and joints, and use swimming and stretching exercises to strengthen your back muscles and abdominal flexibility and maintain your physical fitness, you can improve or even improve your physical fitness. Avoid hip joint adhesion.
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