[2] Osteoarthritis Flashcards
What is the most common form of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
What is osteoarthritis?
A degenerative joint disease, with the clinical syndrome of joint pain accompanied by varying degrees of functional limitation and reduced quality of life
What joints does osteoarthritis most commonly affect?
- Knees
- Hips
- Small joints of hands
Pathologically, what does osteoarthritis acause?
- Gross cartilage loss
- Morphological damage to other joint tissues
- Biochemical changes
- Inflammation of the synovium and surrounding joint capsule
What happens pathologically during the onset of osteoarthritis?
The collagen matrix becomes more disorganised, and there is a decrease in proteoglycan content within cartilage
What is the result of the decrease in proteoglycan contact in early osteoarthritis?
Without the protective effect of proteoglycans, the fibers of the cartilage become susceptible to degradation, and thus exacerbate the degeneration
How does the degree of inflammation of the synvoium and surrounding joint capsule compare in osteoarthritis to rheumatoid arthritis?
It is mild in osteoarthritis compared to RA
What other structures within the joint can be affected in osteoarthritis?
The ligaments within the joint can become thickened and fibrotic, and the menisci can become damaged and wear away
What can form on the outer margins of joints in osteoarthritis?
New bony outgrowths, called osteophytes
What has the pain in an osteoarthritis joint been related to?
Thickened synovium and subchondrial bone lesions
What are the risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis?
- Joint injury, or overusing the joint when it hasn’t had enough time to heal after injury or operation
- Joints that are severely damaged by previous or existing conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout
- Age
- Family history
- Obesity
What are the signs and symptoms of localised osteoarthritis?
- Pain on movement, worse at end of day
- Crepitus
- Background pain at rest
- Joint felling (stiffness after rest) for up to 30 minutes
- Joint instability
What are the signs and symptoms of generalised osteoarthritis?
- Heberden’s nodes, commonly on DIP joints, thumb carpometacarpal joints, and knees
- Joint tenderness or derangement
- Bony swelling
- Decreased range of movements
When can a diagnosis of osteoarthritis be made on a clinical basis alone?
When the patient is;
- Age 45 or over
- Has activity related joint pain
- Has no morning joint stiffness, or joint stiffness that lasts for no longer than 30 minutes
What tests may be used in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis?
Further tests aren’t normally necessary, however blood tests and x-rays can be used to rule out other similar conditions
What is meant by a holistic approach to osteoarthritis assessment and management?
When someone is diagnosed with osteoarthritis, you should assess the effect on the person’s quality of life, occupation, mood, relationships, and leisure activity
What social factors should be assessed in the holistic approach to osteoarthritis management?
Effect on life, including ADLs, family duties, and hobbies
You should also look at lifestyle expectations
What occupational factors should be looked at in the holistic management of osteoarthritis?
Ability to perform job, both in the long term and short term, and any adjustments required to be made to the home or workplace