The Musculoskeletal Involvement in Rheumatic Disorders

Abstract

Patients with rheumatic disease may present with a myriad of symptoms, but the most common is undoubtedly chronic or intermittent joint pain. Rheumatic disorders typically affect the musculoskeletal system determining, especially if left untreated, long-term functional damage and deformity. Rheumatisms can be distinguished into two main types on the basis of their pathogenesis: inflammatory and degenerative. Inflammatory disorders are generally triggered by an autoimmune, an infective or a metabolic process. An autoimmune reaction is believed to determine rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondyloarthritis. Infections are responsible for septic and reactive arthritis, whereas microcrystalline arthropathies are considered metabolic disorders. Degenerative rheumatisms include primary and secondary arthrosis.

This chapter focuses on inflammatory rheumatisms, attempting to summarize their musculoskeletal involvement and how rheumatic deformities are generally treated.