Reactive arthritis is a postinfectious seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SNSA) syndrome characterized by a spectrum of specific musculoskeletal and extra-articular manifestations. The syndrome occurs after infection with specific organisms in two major settings: diarrheal illness and urogenital infection. The majority of patients…
Psoriatic arthritis (synonym: psoriatic osteoarthropathy) is an autoimmune response disorder that belongs to the seronegative spondarthropathies. It is strongly associated with dermatologic psoriasis. Psoriatic spondylarthropathy (synonym: psoriatic spondyloarthritis) refers to the involvement of the axial skeleton in patients who suffer…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory systemic disease that primarily affects the synovium and is characterized by destruction of bone and cartilage. The small joints of the hands and feet are typically affected, although the larger joints…
Degeneration and loss of joint function are common end points for many arthropathies, the most prevalent of which is osteoarthritis (OA). Until the late twentieth century, OA was regarded as a mechanical disease, with damage to the articular surface resulting…
What is Aging? The processes and inevitability of aging are as certain as death and paying taxes. In the past 5 years, the population of the world has grown by approximately 1.7% per year. On the other hand, the number…
Etiology Degeneration of the spine is universal and involves structural changes in the disk, bone, ligaments, and articular cartilage of the facet joints. Despite the high prevalence of degeneration, the underlying etiology is still only partially understood. There is, however,…
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), formerly referred to as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) or causalgia, is a complex clinical entity. Most authors consider it a neuropathic pain disorder with some autonomic features and without a single pathognomonic test or marker.…
Prevalence, Epidemiology, and Definitions Injury of muscle, whether contusion, laceration, or strain, is one of the most frequently encountered injuries in athletes. Strain injury accounts for 90% of sports injuries of muscle and may result in significant disability. Muscle injuries…
There are many complications of skeletal trauma, although in most cases fracture healing is uncomplicated. Complications can result from direct trauma to bone and soft tissue or from the treatment of the fractures. Complications may be systemic or local and…
History and Radiation Sources Since the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 and the discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1896, many medical uses of radiation have been developed, both diagnostic and therapeutic. Patients can be…