Osteoarthritis of the Glenohumeral Joint

Question 1

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 1

A progressive non-inflammatory disease characterized by degenerative pathological changes in the articular cartilage and its related components

Question 2

What is the typical history of a patient with osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint?

Answer 2

Typically over 60 years old

• Gradual onset of shoulder pain
• Progressively worsening
• Aggravated by activity

Question 3

What are possible findings of a physical examination of a patient with osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint?

Answer 3

• Decreased active and passive GHJ ROM in all planes with no pattern to loss of motion
• Possible disuse atrophy (if pain is chronic)
• Crepitus in GHJ

Question 4

How might a radiograph of osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint demonstrate joint destruction?

Answer 4

• Decreased joint space
• Subchondral sclerosis
• Osteophyte formation
• Amount of joint destruction often does NOT correlate to the amount of pain a patient experiences