Etymed
spondylitis
Definition
inflammation of one or more vertebrae
Clinical context
A 28-year-old man presents with progressive back pain and stiffness that worsens in the morning and improves with activity. On examination, there is tenderness over the sacroiliac joints and decreased spinal mobility. X-rays show bilateral sacroiliitis with syndesmophytes. The patient is diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine.
Mnemonic
SPONDYLITIS = Spondylo means spine,ritis means inflammation - think 'SPINE' and 'INFLAMMATION'