What does ankylose mean?
Ankylose is a medical verb meaning to make a joint permanently rigid by fusing the adjoining bones, whether this happens through disease or is deliberately achieved by surgery. When a joint ankyloses, the normal space between the bones fills in and movement at that joint is lost entirely. The process occurs naturally in advanced inflammatory arthritis — most famously ankylosing spondylitis, a condition whose very name references it — where the spine's vertebrae may gradually grow together. Orthopedic surgeons also speak of ankylosing a joint on purpose, fixing a painful or unstable joint in the most useful position when replacement is not possible. The word derives from the Greek 'ankylos', meaning crooked or bent, and belongs to formal, clinical register rather than everyday speech; lay readers are far more likely to meet its noun form, ankylosis. It remains indispensable vocabulary for anyone reading rheumatology or orthopedic literature.
(Of a joint or bones) To become fused and immobile, especially as a result of disease, inflammation, or injury.
"Following severe infection, the patient's hip joint began to ankylose."
Most frequently encountered in discussions of chronic inflammatory arthritis.
(Medicine) To fix or fuse a joint in position, either surgically or by other intervention, eliminating its movement.
"The surgeon chose to ankylose the wrist in a neutral position after failed reconstructive attempts."
When a joint ankyloses, your body literally welds its own bones together — no surgeon required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ankylose
Ankylose derives from the Greek 'ankylos', meaning crooked or bent, which passed into New Latin as 'ankylosis' for the pathological stiffening of joints before yielding the English verb in the nineteenth century. The same Greek root lies behind the common English word 'angle' via Latin 'angulus'. Its derivative forms include the noun 'ankylosis', the adjective 'ankylosed', and the present participle 'ankylosing', best known from the disease name ankylosing spondylitis.
Related word forms
How ankylose is actually used
A technical term used almost exclusively in medical and clinical contexts. It appears most often in discussion of arthritis, spinal conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, and orthopedic surgery. The adjective 'ankylosed' is common in clinical writing ('an ankylosed knee').
Easily confused with ankylose
Ankylose is the verb describing the process of joint fusion, while ankylosis is the noun naming the resulting condition of stiffness and immobility.