Arthrodesis Health Dictionary

A common joint disease characterized by degeneration of the cartilage that lines joints or by formation of osteophytes, leading to pain, stiffness, and occasionally loss of function. Osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear on joints, weight-bearing joints being the most commonly affected. Weakness and shrinkage of surrounding muscles may occur if pain prevents the joint from being used regularly. Affected joints become enlarged and distorted by osteophytes. Osteoarthritis occurs in almost all people over 60, although not all have symptoms. Factors that lead to its earlier development include excessive wear of, or injury to, a joint; congenital deformity or misalignment of bones in a joint; obesity; or inflammation from a disease such as gout. Severe osteoarthritis affects 3 times as many women as men.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. Symptoms can be relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, injections of corticosteroid drugs into affected joints, and physiotherapy. In overweight people, weight loss often provides relief of symptoms. Surgery for severe osteoarthritis includes arthroplasty and arthrodesis.... osteoarthritis

Complete loss of movement in a joint caused by fusion of the bony surfaces.

Ankylosis may be due to degeneration as a result of inflammation, infection, or injury, or be produced surgically by surgery to fuse a diseased joint to correct deformity or to alleviate persistent pain (see arthrodesis).... ankylosis

Inflammation of one or more joints, with pain, swelling, and stiffness. There are several different types of arthritis, each having different characteristics. The most common form is osteoarthritis, which most often involves the knees, hips, and hands and usually affects middle-aged and older people. Cervical osteoarthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that affects the joints in the neck. Rheumatoid arthritis is a damaging

condition that causes inflammation in the joints and other body tissues such as the membranous heart covering, lungs, and eyes. The disorder has different effects in children (see juvenile chronic arthritis). Ankylosing spondylitis is another persistent form of arthritis that initially affects the spine and the joints between the base of the spine and the pelvis. Other tissues, such as the eyes, may also be affected. Eventually, the disorder may cause the vertebrae (bones of the spine) to fuse. Reactive arthritis typically develops in susceptible people following an infection, most commonly of the genital tract or intestines. Gout and pseudogout are types of arthritis in which crystals are deposited in a joint, causing swelling and pain. Septic arthritis is a relatively rare condition that can develop when infection enters a joint either through a wound or from the bloodstream.

Diagnosis of particular types of arthritis is made from blood tests and, in some cases, microscopic examination of fluid from the affected joint. X-rays or MRI can indicate the type and extent of joint damage.

Physiotherapy and exercises can help to minimize the effects of arthritis, and there are specific treatments for some types, such as antibiotic drugs for septic arthritis.

In severe cases, one or more joints may need arthroplasty (replacement with an artificial substitute) or arthrodesis (fusion of the bones).... arthritis

A deformity of the big toe in which the joint at the base projects out from the foot, and the top of the toe turns inwards.

The condition is more common in women, because it is usually associated with wearing narrow, pointed, high-heeled shoes, but it may be caused by an inherited weakness in the joint.

A hallux valgus often leads to formation of a bunion or to osteoarthritis in the joint, causing pain and limiting foot movement.

Severe deformity may be corrected by osteotomy or arthrodesis.... hallux valgus

A joint that has been damaged by inflammation and a series of injuries, which pass unnoticed due to loss of sensation in the joint resulting from neuropathy (nerve damage caused by disease). Neuropathic joints develop in a number of conditions, including diabetes mellitus and untreated syphilis.

When sensation to pain is lost, abnormal stress and strain on a joint do not stimulate the protective reflex spasm of the surrounding muscles; this failure of the protective reflex allows exaggerated movement that can damage the joint. Osteoarthritis, swelling, and deformity are features of a neuropathic joint.An orthopaedic brace or caliper splint may be necessary to restrict any abnormal movement of the joint.

Occasionally, an arthrodesis (a surgical operation to fuse a joint) is performed.

The nerve damage is irreversible.... neuropathic joint

Inability to straighten the wrist, so that the back of the hand cannot be brought into line with the back of the forearm. This causes weakness of grip because the hand muscles can function efficiently only when the wrist is held straight.

Wrist-drop is caused by damage to the radial nerve, either by prolonged pressure in the armpit (see crutch palsy) or by fracture of the humerus (see humerus, fracture of).

Treatment involves holding the wrist straight.

This may be achieved by means of a splint, but if damage to the radial nerve is permanent, the usual treatment is arthrodesis (surgical fusion) of the wrist bones in a straight position.... wrist-drop

an apparatus used to encourage *arthrodesis between the ends of two bones on either side of a joint. Parallel pins driven through the bone ends are connected on each side of the joint by bolts bearing wing nuts; tightening of the screw arrangements forces the surfaces of the bones together. When the two bones have joined, by growth and reshaping, the clamps can be removed. [Sir J. Charnley (1911–82), British orthopaedic surgeon]... charnley clamps

painful stiffness and enlargement of the metatarsophalangeal joint, at the base of the big toe, resulting from osteoarthritis. Unlike *hallux valgus, men are more commonly affected than women. Conservative treatment is often successful, but in some cases surgery (e.g. *cheilectomy, *arthrodesis, or *arthroplasty) is required.... hallux rigidus

a deformity of a toe, most often the second, caused by fixed flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint, which produces extension of distal interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. A corn often forms over the deformity, which may be painful. If severe pain does not respond to strapping or corrective footwear, it may be necessary to perform *arthrodesis at the affected joint.... hammer toe

n. the procedure of making a normally movable part of the body, such as a joint, immovable. This helps infected, diseased, or injured tissue (bone, joint, or muscle) to heal. Immobilization may be temporary (for example, by means of a plaster of Paris cast on a limb) or it may be permanent. Permanent immobilization of a joint is achieved by means of *arthrodesis.... immobilization

necrosis of the *lunate bone of the wrist caused by interruption of its blood supply (see osteochondritis; osteonecrosis). It usually follows chronic stress or injury to the wrist and presents with pain and stiffness, with reduced grip strength. Initially, X-rays may show no abnormality; if the disease is suspected, a bone scan or MRI is indicated. Treatment is with rest, splintage, and *NSAIDs, but some cases require surgical shortening of the radius or *arthrodesis of the wrist. [R. Kienböck (1871–1953), Austrian radiologist]... kienböck’s disease