1987 American College of Rheumatology
Need 4/7 (MAX RANS)
1. Morning Stiffness
2. Arthritis of 3 areas > 6/52
3. Xray changes
4. Rh factor
5. Arthritis of Hand > 6/52
6. Nodules
7. Symmetric Arthritis > 6/52
Benign tumour of nerve & sheath tissue
Most common benign nerve sheath tumour
- associated with NF 1
- usually arises from small cutaneous nerves
1. Localised
- most common type
- usually solitary (90%) with no genetic association
- nil malignant transormation
A chronic systemic, autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown cause
1% of population
M:F = 1:3
Peak onset 40 years
Most common inflammatory arthropathy
Autoimmune
- trigger not identified
- cell mediated immune response
Different entity to thoracic Scheuermann's
- end plate abnormal but no kyphosis or wedging
Self - limiting condition
Young athlete / labourer
Adolescent who presents with low grade levels of low back pain
- more pain than thoracic
Structural kyphosis of thoracic or thoracolumbar spine
- characterised by vertebral wedging & subsequent growth disturbance of vertebral end plate
1. Kyphosis > 45°
2. > 5° wedging 3 or more adjacent apical vertebrae
Other features
- Schmorl nodes
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
- non-inflammatory disease
- ossifying enthesopathy / bone forming diasthesis
- most commonly involves spine / anterior longitudinal ligament
AKA Forestier's disease
Ankylosing Spondylosis
DISH
- non inflammatory
- no facet or SIJ involvement
- no squaring of anterior vertebral body
A HLA B27 positive, seronegative spondyloarthropathy with sacroiliac joint & spine involvement
Mainly affects the cartilaginous joints of the axial skeleton
1. Positive X-ray Sacroiliitis
