Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)

Question 1

What is the most common form of joint disease?

Answer 1

Osteoarthritis

Question 2

Does OA occur more frequently in men or women?

Answer 2

women

Question 3

What are the 2 characteristics of OA?

Answer 3

• Degeneration of cartilage

- Hypertrophy of bone

Question 4

What has been linked to be a risk factor for DJD of the knees, hands, and hips?

Answer 4

obesity

Question 5

What are the 2 types of OA?

Answer 5

• primary

- secondary

Question 6

Primary DJD most commonly affects which joints?

Answer 6

- DIP and PIP joints of the fingers
CMC joint of the thumb
- hips
- knees
- MTP joints of the first toe
- cervical and lumbar spine

Question 7

When does secondary DJD occur?

Answer 7

In any joint as a result to articular injury resulting in either intra-articular or extra-articular causes

Question 8

What are the signs and symptoms of DJD?

Answer 8

• Insidious onset
• Articular stiffness initially (lasting less than 15 minutes usually)
• Pain on motion (as a result of the stiffness)
• Flexion contracture or varus deformity of the knee
• bony enlargements of the DIP and PIP
• Limitation of motion
• Crepitus
• Joint effusion

Question 9

True or False

OA causes an elevation of the electrolyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or other signs of inflammation

Answer 9

False

Synovial fluid is non inflammatory

Question 10

What are some image findings of OA?

Answer 10

• Narrowing of the joint space
• Osteophyte formation
• Lipping of marginal bone
• Thickened, dense subcondral bone
• Bone cysts

Question 11

How can you tell the difference between OA and RA?

Answer 11

OA affects the DIP and PIP joints and spares the wrist and MCP joints. The opposite is true of RA

Question 12

Skeletal symptoms due to degenerative changes in joints (especially in the spine) may cause what 4 things to be overlooked?

Answer 12

• Coexistent metastatic neoplasia
• Osteoporosis
• Multiple myeloma
• Other bone diseases

Question 13

What are 3 things that can be done in order to prevent OA?

Answer 13

• weight reduction
• correcting leg length discrepancies > 1 cm
• maintain normal vitamin D levels

Question 14

What are 4 general treatment measures?

Answer 14

• Assistive devices
• Splinting
• Regular exercise program
• Weight loss

Question 15

What are 4 medications that can help treat OA?

Answer 15

• Acetaminophen
• NSAIDS
• Topical Capsaicin (hand OA)
• Chondroitin Sulfate and glucosamine in conjunction with other treatment options

Question 16

Is Acetaminophen or NSAIDS more effective for OA?

Answer 16

NSAIDS, however they are more toxic

Question 17

Other than medication or surgery, what can help treat OA?

Answer 17

Intra-articular injections such as triamcinolone or sodium hyaluronate