Spondyloarthritis refers to a group of inflammatory diseases affecting
the joints and enthuses. Ankylosing spondylitis is the most common of
these disorders. Other disorders include psoriatic arthritis, reactive
arthritis and enteropathic arthritis. Spondyloarthritis can cause
tiredness, back pain, osteoporosis, psoriasis skin rash, pain or
swelling in the hips, ankles, feet, knees, wrists, etc. The diagnosis of
spondyloarthritis is based primarily on physical examination and medical
history. An X-ray of the sacroiliac joints or an MRI may also be
suggested. Pain and inflammation occurring in spondyloarthritis can be
addressed with NSAIDs, while corticosteroids can be injected directly
into a joint or membrane to reduce joint swelling. In cases where these
drugs are insufficient to manage the symptoms, disease-modifying
antirheumatic drugs may be prescribed to prevent joint damage and
relieve symptoms. This book covers in detail the new frontiers in
clinical management of spondyloarthritis. Different approaches,
evaluations, methodologies and advanced studies on spondyloarthritis
have been included herein. This book is a collective contribution of a
renowned group of international experts on orthopedics and inflammatory
diseases.
