Osteoarthritis Flashcards
Define Osteoarthritis?
Age-related degenerative joint disease when cartilage destruction exceeds repair, causing pain and disability
How is Osteoarthritis classifed?
According to the distribution of affected joints
What is the pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis?
Synovial joint cartilage destruction
Eventually, there is loss of joint volume due to altered chrondrocyte activity
Patchy chronic synovial inflammation
Fibrotic thickening of joint capsules
What is the aetiology of Primary Osteoarthritis?
UNKNOWN aetiology
Multifactorial causes
What is the aetiology of Secondary Osteoarthritis?
Other diseases lead to altered joint architecture and stability
What are the commonly associated diseases of Secondary Osteoarthritis?
Developmental abnormalities (e.g. hip dysplasia)
Trauma (e.g. previous fractures)
Inflammatory (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis)
Metabolic (e.g. haemochromatosis, acromegaly)
What is the epidemiology of Osteoarthritis?
COMMON
25% of those > 60 yrs
More common in FEMALES, CAUCASIANS and ASIANS
What are the presenting symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Joint pain and discomfort (use-related) Stiffness or gelling after inactivity Difficulty with certain movements Feelings of instability Restriction walking, climbing stairs and doing manual tasks Systemic features are usually absent
What are the signs of Osteoarthritis?
Local joint tenderness Bony swellings along joint margins Crepitus and pain during joint movement Joint effusion Restriction of range of joint movement
What are the different Bony Swellings along Joint Margins?
Heberden’s Nodes - DISTAL interphalangeal joint
Bouchard’s Nodes - PROXIMAL interphalangeal joint
What investigations do you do for Osteoarthritis?
Joint X-Ray of the affected joint
What will you see on a Joint X-Ray for Osteoarthritis?
Four CLASSIC features: Loss of joint space (narrowing) Osteophytes Subchondral Cysts Subchondral sclerosis
