Degenerative Joint Conditions

Question 1

What factors may lead to the loss of muscle mass in sarcopenia?

Answer 1

Low sex hormones, low IGF-1 , decrease in physical activity, OA and neuronal degeneration

Question 2

What is camptocormia?

Answer 2

an abnormal, severe and involuntary forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine, which becomes manifest during standing and walking and subsides in the recumbent (lying) position

Question 3

How may sarcopenia be prevented?

Answer 3

Exercise, vitamin D depletion (supplements) and HRT

Question 4

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 4

Osteoarthritis is a disease of synovial joints which is characterised by focal cartilage loss and an accompanying reparative bone response.

Question 5

How may you diagnose/observe osteoarthritis on a plain radiograph?

Answer 5

Cartilage loss (joint space narrowing) and bone response (presence of osteophytes and sclerosis)

Question 6

What is pseudogout?

Answer 6

Crystal-associated osteoarthritis (psuedogout) is a calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) disease (an apatite-associated destructive arthritis)

Question 7

What are Heberden’s nodes?

Answer 7

Increased width of the bone in the DISTAL interphalangeal joint, seen in osteoarthritis

Question 8

What are Bouchard’s nodes?

Answer 8

Increased width of the bone in the PROXIMAL interphalangeal joint, seen in osteoarthritis

Question 9

What is spondylosis?

Answer 9

Spondylosis is a degenerative condition of the discal articulation of the spine

Question 10

How is osteoporosis classified?

Answer 10

Primary (type 1 = post-menopausal, type 2 = senile, <70 years of age)

Secondary - due to thyrotoxicosis, Cushing’s, malignancy etc.

Idiopathic (under age 50)

Question 11

Define osteoporosis

Answer 11

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterised by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk of fracture.