Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory arthritis that specifically affects the spine and the sacroiliac joint, causing prolonged inflammation, pain, and stiffness leading to a progressive loss of movement when inadequately managed. With between 0.1 and 0.5 percent of the Indian population affected by forms of spondyloarthritis, the call for adequate patient education and proper management is growing in the rheumatology community and that of spine surgeons. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shrikant Dalal, Robotic, endoscopic, and minimally invasive spine surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, shared tips on managing the same.
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Dr Shrikant said, “Ankylosing Spondylitis is more than a rheumatological problem, but a progressive spinal condition that can eventually cause spinal fusion, deformities, and even fractures if inadequately managed over many years.” All spine surgeons should therefore play a critical role in the lives of AS patients.
