Forestier's disease - causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Forestier's disease has been known since 1950 and is named for the first time the French neurologist who first described it. The disease is hyperostosis - excessive pathologic bone formation, which leads to the formation of ankylosis - adhesions blocking movement in the joint. For this reason, in respect of Forestier's disease in traumatology and orthopedics often used the second name - ankylosing (fixing) hyperostosis. The medical literature also meets third title Forestier's disease - fixing ligamentoz. However, a number of authors believes it is not entirely true, because ligamentoz implies the presence of degenerative changes in ligaments, which in Forestier's disease are not observed.

Forestier's disease is marked mainly in people older than 50 years, the men almost 2 times more often than women. Often in such cases there is the background of the disease, such as obesity, hypertension, hypertension, diabetes.

tuberculosis, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis and purulent t. n.). The rare occurrence of the disease makes it difficult to study its causal factors. Assembled by physicians observations suggest that Forestier's disease are most prone to muscular and 'big-boned' people, especially those with overweight.

Most often Forestier's disease occurs with a lesion of the spinal column. Pathological changes are localized in the anterior longitudinal ligament which is adjacent to the anterior surface of vertebral bodies and executes them to function periosteum. Under certain conditions, it starts to produce bone tissue. There is a replacement ligament connective tissue in the cartilage and then bone. Typically, the process of bone formation begins at the level of the intervertebral disc and runs in several parts of the spine. Thus formed bony growths fused to the front surface of the vertebrae. They give coming from the vertebral hook-like growths that are skirting the intervertebral disc, grow towards each other and grow together. As a result, the mobility of the vertebrae decreases progressively, reaching the total immobility.

Deeper study of cases Forestier led to the fact that the idea of ​​it as a disease of the spine in the 70s gave way to notions of generalized hyperostosis, exciting as ligaments and tendons of the peripheral skeleton. In addition to longitudinal ligament of the spine Forestier's disease may be associated with bone formation in their own patellar ligament, iliac aponeurosis, in the ligaments that attach to the iliac bone, rarely in the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine. Occurring at the same time the processes are similar to the defeat of the anterior longitudinal ligament.

diverticula. Often these changes are forcing the patient to see a doctor. In rare cases, when Forestier's disease occurs with the involvement of the posterior longitudinal ligament, resulting in compression of the spinal cord are developing neurological disorders, identical symptoms of myelopathy.

On examination, the patient having Forestier's disease, there is a slight increase in thoracic kyphosis, pain on palpation of the spinous processes in this department and limited mobility in it. On the periphery there may be areas of local tissue pain in the ligaments attach to bones. In the presence of significant bone growths in the elbows and heels may identify their palpation.

orthopaedist or traumatologist at the base of the spine X-ray data. It is significant that the number of radiographically detectable calcification areas more than the number of clinically detectable lesion areas. However, characteristic for the disease Forestier radiographic changes may occur only after more than 10 years from the onset of the disease.

In its initial stage of the disease Forestier radiographically does not differ from the banal spondylosis. To differentiate between them is necessary to conduct X-ray examination of the spine. Detection of lesions in several parts of the spine speaks in favor of Forestier's disease. More informative is a radiography of the spine in lateral projection. She reveals that hyperostosis occurs not only at the level of the intervertebral discs, as in spondylosis or osteochondrosis, but primarily at the level of the vertebral bodies. Of great importance is conducting radiological studies in the dynamics. In the process of bone formation spondylosis retains its local character and quickly stopped. Forestier's disease is characterized by a long passage with a constant increase in bone growths. It is also necessary to differentiate from Forestier's disease ankylosing spondylitis.

In the later period of Forestier's disease is characterized by massive bone radiographically strata whose thickness can reach 1.5 cm, and roughly the same in the redistribution of the spine. In the thoracic region usually such strata are more pronounced on the right. In the cervical region, they do not form a continuous strip and arranged in fragments. Lumbar completely amazed, but initially bone formation is more pronounced in areas circumdisk and left.

Laboratory diagnosis of Forestier's disease is carried out in order to eliminate inflammatory lesions detected. This CBC usually within the normal range, rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein is not found. However, quite often there is an increase of blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

magnetic therapy, laser therapy, hydrotherapy (hydrogen sulfide and radon general medicated bath), massage, refleksoterpiyu. Pain in lesions of peripheral parts of the skeleton cropped topical administration of corticosteroids and anesthetics, therapeutic punctures of joints, applications anti-inflammatory drugs (ointments, dimexide) appointment ultraphonophoresis hydrocortisone ointment.