Enthesopathy: clinical recognition and significance

Natl Med J India. 2001 Mar-Apr;14(2):90-2.

Abstract

Enthesopathy is a common clinical finding denoting pathology at the 'entheses', i.e. attachment sites of muscles, tendons, joint capsules, ligaments and fascia to the bone. Inflammatory enthesopathy or enthesitis is a sine qua non of seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SSA). It can also be occupational, metabolic, drug induced, infective or degenerative. Bursitis closely mimics enthesitis. Ultrasound with high frequency transducers is a simple, cost-effective and feasible test to detect enthesopathy which is amenable to treatment with local steroid injections, physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in addition to treatment of the primary disease. Unrecognized and untreated, it can lead to considerable morbidity.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Rheumatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Rheumatic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal