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ankylosis (ang″kә-lo´sis) pl. ankylo´ses  immobility and consolidation of a joint due to disease, injury, or surgical procedure. adj., ankylot´ic., adj. Ankylosis may be caused by destruction of the membranes that line the joint or by faulty bone structure. It is most often a result of chronic rheumatoid arthritis, in which the affected joint tends to assume the least painful position and may become more or less permanently fixed in it. Other causes include infection and traumatic injury to the joint. Artificial ankylosis (arthrodesis), fusion of a joint by surgical operation, is sometimes done to ameliorate the pain experienced in a severe joint condition.




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