Osteoarthritis Review Series
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Review Series by: Arlene Gentallan
Definition:
• aka. degenerative joint disease• Marked by articular cartilage destruction
• most prevalent type of arthritis
• Types:
· Idiopathic osteoarthritis
- unknow cause
- most common
- may have a genetic link
· Secondary osteoarthritis
- Secondary to history of trauma / disease process
Etiology:
• Inherited (family history of osteoarthritis)• Hormones
• Aging
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• History of joint and skelletal injury / inflammation
• Chronic overuse of joint (like sports and work related usage)
• Chronic use of drugs such as steroid
Sign and Symptoms:
• Joint pain· frequently affects weight bearing joint
· worsens with activity
· relieves by rest
• Limited range of motion
• Osteophytes (bone spurs formation)
• Bouchard nodes - bone spur formation on the distal interphalangeal joints
• Heberden nodes - bone spur formation on the proximal interphalangeal joints
• Crepitus
Diagnosis:
• Presence of signs and symptoms characteristic of osteoarthritis• X-ray
- reveals formation of osteophytes (bone spur) and narrowing of joint cavity
Treatment:
• Weight loss (if overweight)• Exercise
• Hot compress - promotes cartilage flexibility
• Cold compress - reduces inflammation
• Medications
- Acetaminophen - reduces joint pain
- NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - reduces joint pain and inflammation
Complications:
• Permanent joint immobility
• Disfiguring deformity
Facts:
• Articular cartilage - cartilage that covers and protects the end of long bones
• Our knee bears 6 times our body weight when we walk
• Our hip bears 3 times our body weight when we walk
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