Ankylosing Spondylitis, Orthopedic Perspective
- AS Orthopedic Overview
- AS Orthopedic Causes
- AS Orthopedic Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Questions to Ask the Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Self-Care at Home
- AS Orthopedic Medical Treatment
- Surgery
- Follow-Up
- Prevention
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
AS Orthopedic Overview
>Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the spine and the area where the spine connects to the pelvis (known as the sacroiliac joints). Sacroiliac joint involvement is considered the hallmark of this disorder and is a requirement for diagnosis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is categorized as a seronegative spondyloarthropathy. The term seronegative means that a blood test result does not show the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, and the term spondyloarthropathy means a disease that affects the joints of the spine. These inflammatory disorders affect multiple systems of the body. Other disorders in this category include: Reiter syndrome (reactive arthritis); arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis; psoriatic arthritis; undifferentiated spondyloarthropathies; juvenile chronic arthritis; and juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis affects approximately 0.1-0.2% of the world population and is more prevalent in individuals of Northern European ancestry. People with ankylosing spondylitis often have a family member with the disease or one of the other spondyloarthropathy disorders listed above.
Next: AS Orthopedic Causes »
From Our Sponsor
Content under this heading is from or created on behalf of the named sponsor. This content is not subject to the WebMD Editorial Policy and is not reviewed by the WebMD Editorial department for accuracy, objectivity or balance.
Arthritis
Get the latest treatment options
From WebMD
Arthritis Resources
- How Well Are You Managing Your RA?
- Is It Fibromyalgia? Assess Your Symptoms.
- How Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects Women
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Ankylosing Spondylitis, Orthopedic Perspective
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement »
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement Overview
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most successful modern orthopedic procedures. (Orthopedics is the branch of medicine dealing with the bones.) Knee replacement surgeries use modern biomaterials. Biomaterials are synthetic or partially synthetic materials that are used to take the place of parts within the body. Use of these modern materials has allowed knee replacements to last well in appropriately selected patients. However, pain and other side effects associated with the surgical procedure remain a concern for many people. In particular, people are concerned about the uncomfortable physical therapy that is often required after knee replacement surgery to regain muscle strength and mobility.
New and improved anesthesia techniques, as well as pain management medications and methods, have reduced pain and improved recovery after knee replacement surgery. Any method of speeding up recovery after surgery is desir...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Ankylosing Spondylitis »
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, multisystem inflammatory disorder of the sacroiliac (SI) joints and the axial skeleton.
