Osteoarthritis Flashcards
what is the most common form of arthritis
osteoarthritis
what type of disorder is osteoarthritis
primarily degenerative
what else can be present
inflammation
what causes periodic flaring of osteoarthritis
associated inflammation
what is the suggested pathophysiology
imbalance between wear and repair of cartilage within joints
is there a familial link
maybe
no pattern of mendelian inheritance and no formal genetic mutation observed
what are risk factors for osteoarthritis
environmental factors, hobbies, type of work, abnormal alignment of joints (developmental or pathological)
what can lead to secondary arthritis
previous injuries
- articular cartilage injuries
- intra-articular fractures
- extra-articular fractures with subsequent malalignment
- meniscal injuries
what is the definition of primary osteoarthritis
no causative factor found
what are X-ray findings of OA
loss of joint space
osteophytes
sclerosis
subchondral cysts
what is sclerosis
hardening of the bone (appears more white)
what is the problem with imaging in OA
imaging findings sometimes don’t match symptoms
treat based on symptoms not findings
what is the management
pain control (simple analgesia or mild opiates), physio (useful in strengthening surrounding structures), weight loss and exercise, joint replacement in some situations (depends on joint)
