Osteoarthritis (OA) or osteoarthrosis is the most usual form of arthritis. It displays a strong affiliation with ageing and is a prima cause of pain and disability in the aged. Pathologically, it might be delineated as a condition of synovial joints characterized by focal loss of articular hyaline cartilage with proliferation of novel bone and recasting of joint shape. Inflammation isn't a striking feature. OA preferentially targets simply certain small and large joints but is not a disease or a single condition. It is best considered as the ever-changing repair process of synovial joints that might be sparked off by a diversity of abuses, some but not all of which result in symptom of joint failure.Genetic inheritance is a major factor, particularly for hand and generalized OA but also for hip and knee OA. Trauma is a commonly acknowledged predisposing factor, impalpable repetitive adverse burden of joints during line of work or aggressive sports also appears important.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
A variety of mechanical, metabolic, genetic or integral processes may damage a joint requiring repair. However the insult process remains mostly ill-defined (Primary OA) but sometimes there is a more apparent cause such as injury or ligament tear (Secondary OA).
What happens in Osteoarthritis?
All the parts of the joint depend on each another for maintaining the equilibrium and the movement. Injury to any one component, pressurize other parts, resulting in a common OA phenotype affecting the whole joint. The OA process involves new tissue production and remodeling of shape of the joint. Often the slow but efficient process compensates for the injury, resulting in an altered but pain-free functioning joint. It’s when the injury is severe or the repair process is not up to mark, the repair process fails, resulting in gradual tissue damage leading to osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis?
- Pain in the affected joint
- Functional restriction of the joint
- Pain in the surrounding structures of the joint
- Insidious onset of pain over months or years
- Relapse and remission
- No or less morning stiffness
- Pain related to work load and relieved by rest.
- X-ray
- CT/MRI
Treatment
- Full explanation of the nature of OA
- Advice and instruction on appropriate exercise
- Reduction of any adverse mechanical factors
- Analgesics
- Steroids (intra-articular)
- Local physical therapies such as heat or cold
