Spondylitis is extremely rare. According to statistics, pathology is observed in 0.3-0.8% of people. Therefore, many do not even know if they hear the diagnosis of spondylitis, what it is. In medical practice, this term is called inflammatory disease of the spine. An ailment develops against the background of neglected bacterial infections. Timely seeking help from doctors helps to avoid the development of such an unpleasant disease. This explains the good statistics.
Disease characteristics
Spondylitis - what is it? This pathology unites a whole group of inflammatory ailments of the spine, proceeding in a chronic form. It is characterized by the defeat of several links of the pillar.
The pathology may be based on:
- tuberculosis;
- brucellosis;
- typhoid fever;
- purulent infection.
Other causes of the ailment cannot be ruled out. But most often it is precisely tuberculous spondylitis that is observed.
Inflammation in the body leads to destruction of the vertebrae, bone density decreases. As a result, deformation of the entire column develops.
Pathology refers to a rare disease that can occur in people of various ages. The initial degree has a rather vague symptomatology, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. But with the defeat of several links of the pillar, the ailment acquires a recognizable character.
It is necessary to clearly understand spondylitis - what is it. This is a pathology that manifests itself in intense pain, a feeling of stiffness, fever, a feeling of weakness and the emergence of a fairly specific posture. It is very dangerous if pathologies are not given due importance. Its progression leads to the formation of a hump or angular curvature of the spine in the thoracic region.
The causes of the disease
Spondylitis disease always occurs as a result of an infectious process that occurs in the body.
Doctors distinguish the following causes of the onset of the disease:
- Specific. An illness provokes a certain bacterium, leading to changes in the vertebrae: tuberculosis, brucellosis, gonorrhea, syphilitic, actinomycotic.
- Non-specific. Microorganisms cause a typical course of the disease on the principle of purulent inflammation. The disease can be triggered by: intestinal bacteria, hemophilic bacillus, staphylococci. A distinctive feature of the pathology is the formation of a paravertebral abscess.
- Rheumatoid. Pathologies provoked by hemolytic streptococcus of group A lead to this ailment: tonsillitis, pyoderma, carditis.
Predisposing factors for the onset of the disease are:
- reduced immunity;
- long-term use of cytostatics, glucocorticosteroids;
- spinal injuries;
- a chronic focus of a specific infection (gonorrhea, pulmonary tuberculosis).
Disease classification
There are many varieties of spondylitis, if we consider it from the point of view of the cause.
The most common are 3 types:
- tuberculous
- aseptic;
- ankylosing.
In addition, pathology can affect any area. Therefore, they distinguish:
- spondylitis of the lumbar spine;
- breast;
- cervical.
Main symptoms
People who are faced with a pathology such as spondylitis, what it is, understand perfectly. The disease is manifested by extremely unpleasant symptoms and significantly affects the quality of life.
The following clinic is characteristic of the disease:
- painful discomfort in the back, hip, legs, chest;
- inflammatory process in the spinal column;
- burning or tingling in the hips, legs, back;
- stiffness of the spine;
- the constant need to "go to the toilet";
- decreased mobility;
- pain during movement;
- shortening of the spine;
- the occurrence of problems with sleep;
- manifestation of curvature of the spine.
Spondylitis of the lumbar spine is manifested by fairly characteristic neurological disorders:
- Partial or complete paralysis of the lower extremities may be observed.
- In the case of a pronounced process, fecal and urine incontinence appears.
- Pain in the leg area is sometimes given in the perineum.
- Discomfort is prickly in nature, periodically observed "backache".
- Symptoms are typical that indicate intoxication of the body: low temperature, dizziness, weakness.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
This pathology has another name - ankylosing spondylitis. The basis of the development of the disease is immune damage to the ligaments. Ankylosing spondylitis often ends in immobility of the body. Often, such a pathology is observed in men who have passed the 20-year mark.
Ankylosing spondylitis of the spine gradually limits motor function. With this ailment, a fusion of the vertebrae is observed. As a result, they form one bone.
Pathology develops gradually, for a long time. Initially, the lumbar region is affected, then the disease covers the thigh and groin. The ossification of the spine rises slowly. Unpleasant enough when it reaches the chest area. Indeed, along with limited mobility, difficulty breathing is observed. As a result, the patient develops chronic lung pathology.
Symptoms of the disease are significantly enhanced with active load or prolonged rest. Unpleasant discomfort is eliminated with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs and special gymnastics.
Tuberculous spondylitis
The disease is called Pott's disease. Most often, pathology occurs in children and adolescents. The causative agent of the disease is quite resistant to the action of acids and many antibiotics.
Tuberculous spondylitis mainly develops in the chest area, since the disease is caused by microorganisms localized in the lungs, sometimes in the lymph nodes. Bacteria, penetrating the vertebrae, provoke the formation of tuberous structures that degenerate into foci of necrosis. Tissue death covers nearby pillar links.
Pathology can begin to progress several years after infection. Excessive load, trauma, weakening of immunity can trigger the mechanism of development of the disease.
The symptoms of tuberculous spondylitis are as follows:
- In the area of localization of inflammation, edema and cold abscesses are observed.
- Significantly limited motor function.
- The child quickly gets tired, sleeps poorly, is restless.
- Children have a cautious gait. They try to stick out their stomach and straighten their back, intuitively reducing the load on the spine.
- There are complaints of abdominal pain.
The progression of the disease leads to the formation of a hump, the occurrence of neurological disorders, sometimes paralysis.
The patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs, restorative therapy. Surgery is recommended in some cases.
Aseptic Spondylitis
Such an ailment is known in medicine as Kyummel-Verney's disease. The basis of the development of the disease is vertebral injury. Aseptic spondylitis is quite unpleasant and treacherous. After the injury, the illusion is created that the disease is defeated, since no symptoms are observed in the patient. This can go on for several years. Unfortunately, during this period, the affected area manages to become covered with necrotic foci.
Most often, the pathology is diagnosed in men of middle and young age. Kummel-Verney's disease in most cases is localized in the thoracic region, but sometimes it also appears in the lumbar region.
An extremely unpleasant picture is observed if the intravertebral artery was damaged during the injury. In this case, there is a profuse hemorrhage, provoking vasomotor disorders. Necrotic processes begin to develop, bone dissolution occurs.
However, the affected vertebra continues to carry the load and perform all functions. This situation leads to deformation. And even a minor injury is enough for the patient to experience a compression fracture of the spine.
Drug treatment
It is possible to stop the development of pathology only by complex measures.
If spondylitis of the spine is diagnosed, treatment includes:
- prescribing medications;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- medical gymnastics.
Therapy is completely dependent on the source that provoked the disease. Therefore, medications are selected individually.
Most often, the patient is prescribed:
- NSAIDs. It can be medicines: "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac", "Nimesulide."
- Preparations that eliminate inflammation and do not have a steroid effect: Indomethacin, Ortofen. Such medicines reduce pain, reduce fever, and eliminate inflammation.
- Corticosteroids. Medicines aimed at removing puffiness and restoring disturbed metabolic processes. They provide spinal restoration. Often, the drug "Prednisolone" is recommended.
- Antibiotics. Their use allows you to fight infections. The following medications are prescribed: Cefixime, Norfloxacin, Ceftriaxone, Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin.
- Solutions that ensure the removal of toxins from the body. Recommended: Ringer's remedy or sodium chloride solution.
Additional Therapies
After eliminating the pain syndrome, the treatment of spondylitis consists in the following measures:
- Physiotherapy. Daily exercise helps strengthen muscle tissue.
- Thermotherapy. The affected area is warmed up. As a result, pain is minimized.
- Therapeutic baths. Such activities are aimed at relaxing muscle tissue and eliminating discomfort.
- Phonophoresis. The procedure eliminates puffiness.
- Massage. It normalizes blood circulation and stimulates metabolism. Helps to restore the correct position of the vertebrae.
Surgical treatment is rarely used. Its need arises only when drug therapy has been unsuccessful. That is why it is very important for a pathology such as spondylitis, to seek medical help in a timely manner.