OSTEOARTHRITIS IN ENGLISH

                                              

                                 OSTEOARTHRITIS IN ENGLISH

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OSTEOARTHRITIS-

Ø Osteoarthritis is most common disabling joint problem. It is a degenerative joint disease which affects cartilage of the joint. It mostly affects aged people and main cause of joint pain. Osteo-arthritis can affect any joint but most commonly joints of hands, knees, hips and spine are affected.

CLASSIFICAITON-

Ø The major types of osteo-arthritis are-

Ø Primary and

Ø Secondary,

Ø Primary osteo-arthritis is also known as idiopathic osteoarthritis. Idiopathic means no definitive cause is known. Normally there is no prior event or disease related to joint problem.

Ø Secondary osteo-arthritis is caused by some previous joint injury or inflammatory disease of joints.

CAUSATIVE FACTORS-

Ø Osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative disease. Age is a big factor in the development of osteoarthritis. Increasing age directly relates to the degenerative process in the joint, because the ability of the articular cartilage to diminishes with age. OA often begins in the third decade of life and peaks between the fifth and sixth decades.

Ø Other risk factors include-

Ø Obesity,

Ø Previous joint damage,

Ø Repetitive use (occupational or recreational)

Ø Anatomical deformity, and

Ø Genetic susceptibility.

 

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS-

Ø clinical manifestations of Osteo-arthritis are-

Ø Joint pain, (specially during or after movement)

Ø Joint stiffness, which is most commonly experienced in the morning or after awakening, usually lasts less than 30 minutes and decreases with movement.

Ø Functional impairment. (difficulty in walking or standing)

Ø Joint Tenderness (Patient feels pain on applying pressure on or near a joint)

Ø Grating sensation (Patient may hear crackling sound during movement of a joint)

Ø Bony nodes. (hard lumps may be felt around the affected joint)

Ø Swelling. (due to soft tissue inflammation around the affected joint)

 

DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS-

Ø History taking and Physical examination ( presence of sign and symptoms of OA )

Ø X-ray examination of affected joint. (narrowing of joint space is detected and bone nodes may be seen)

Ø  MRI may be done but not needed in all cases.

Ø Synovial fluid testing may also be done.

TREATMENT-

Ø The main goal of management of osteoarthritis is to slow down the progress of degeneration and minimize discomfort.

Ø Medical management includes pain killers such as acetaminophen.

Ø In severe pain opioid drugs and intra-articular corticosteroids may be used.

Ø supportive treatment measures include-

Ø  The use of heat,

Ø Weight reduction,

Ø Avoidance of joint overuse and eight bearing.

Ø  Joint rest 

Ø Isometric and postural exercises,

Ø Orthotic devices such as splints and braces to support inflamed joints,

Ø Aerobic exercise.

In moderate to severe OA, when pain is severe or because of loss of function, surgical intervention may be used. The procedures most commonly used are osteotomy and arthroplasty