Osteoarthritis

Question 1

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 1

Degenerative disease/ age related disorder of synovial joints : wear and tear arthritis

Question 2

What is the function of the articular cartilage?

Answer 2

protects underlying bone and acts as shock absorber

Question 3

The case of osteoporosis increases with what factors?

Answer 3

1. age: rare= <40, >85%= >70 yrs
2. with stress on joints= eg. obesity, sport
3. men> women

Question 4

5 pathophysiological characteristics of osteoarthritis

Answer 4

1. loss of art cart: specialised CT that covers ends of bones in synovial joints
2. more degenerative changes than repair: chondrocytes cant keep up
3. cartilage becomes thin leaving underlying subchondral bone unprotected
4. subchondral bone becomes sclerotic (dense and hard)
5. Bone spurs can form and brak off into synovial cavity leading to synovitis and joint effusion ( increase fluid with synovial compartment of joint)

Question 5

common sites of osteoarthritis

Answer 5

fingers
spine
hips
knee

Question 6

primary signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis

Answer 6

pain
stiffness
enlargement/swelling
muscle wasting
partial dislocation
deformity

Question 7

usually relief from joint pain is from in osteoarthritis

Answer 7

rest

Question 8

4 TM of osteoarthritis

Answer 8

1. rest, range of motion exercises, crutches to weight bearing, weightloss, analgesic (relieve pain) and anti-inflammatory med.
2. intra-articular injection of high molecular weight viscosupplements particularly hyaluronic acid
3. acupunxcture
4. surgery is used to improve joint movement , correct deformity and malalignment or create new joint