Osteoarthritis

Question 1

Epidemiology of OA

Answer 1

Old age
Female
Inflammatory joint diseases
Obesity
Occupation
Muscle weakness

Question 2

Pathology of OA

Answer 2

Disorder of synovial joints - involving the bone, ligaments, muscle, cartilage and synovium.
Caused by repeated pressure on weight-bearing joints - causes breakdown of cartilage which exposes bone.

Question 3

What can OA be secondary to?

Answer 3

Trauma
Infection
RA
Perthe’s disease
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis

Question 4

What are the symptoms of OA?

Answer 4

Pain
Inflammation
Deformity
Stiffness
Most commonly of the knee, hip, hands - DIP, PIP

Question 5

Describe the pain of OA

Answer 5

Onset gradual
Worsens with activity
Early morning stiffness less than 1hr
Night pain

Question 6

What investigations would you do for OA?

Answer 6

X-rays
Examination

Question 7

What would an examination for OA show?

Answer 7

Antalgic gait
Swelling
Tenderness
Crepitus
Reduced range of movement
Instability
Heberdens nodes - DIP
Bouchards nodes - PIP

Question 8

What would on X-ray show in OA?

Answer 8

Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Sclerosis
Subchondral cysts

Question 9

What is the conservative management of OA?

Answer 9

Analgesia - paracetamol, NSAIDs
Physio
Weight-loss
Walking aids
Weight limitation braces
Cortisone (steroid) injections

Question 10

What is the surgical management of OA?

Answer 10

Arthroscopy
Arthrodesis
Arthroplasty
Excision
Osteotomy