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Osteoarthritis

• Overview
• Symptoms
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• Prevention

Definition:

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder. The chronic disease causes the cushioning (cartilage) between the bone joints to wear away, leading to pain and stiffness. It can also cause new pieces of bone, called bone spurs, to grow around the joints.

Alternative Names:

Hypertrophic osteoarthritis; Osteoarthrosis; Degenerative joint disease; DJD; OA; Arthritis - osteoarthritis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Most of the time, the cause of osteoarthritis (OA) is unknown. It is primarily related to aging. However, metabolic, genetic, chemical, and mechanical factors can play a role in its development.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually appear in middle age and are present in almost everyone by the age of 70. Before the age of 55, the condition occurs equally in both sexes. However, after 55 it is more common in women.

The cartilage of the affected joint becomes rough and wears down (degenerates). As the disease gets worse, the cartilage disappears and the bone rubs on bone. Bony spurs usually develop around the joint.

OA is classified as primary or secondary. Primary OA occurs without any type of injury or identifiable cause. Secondary OA is osteoarthritis due to another disease or underlying condition. The most common causes of secondary OA are metabolic conditions, such as acromegaly, problems with anatomy (for example, being bow-legged), injury, or inflammatory disorders like septic arthritis.

References:

Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, Sledge CB, Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology , 7th ed. St. Louis, MO; W.B. Saunders; 2005.

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Announces Series of Changes to the Class of Marketed Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) . Rockville, MD: National Press Office; April 7, 2005. Press Release P05-16.

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Issues Public Health Advisory Recommending Limited Use of Cox-2 Inhibitors . Rockville, MD: National Press Office; December 23, 2004. Talk Paper T04-61.

• Review Date: 10/20/2005
• Reviewed By: Kevin B. Freedman, MD, MSCE, Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Specialists, Bryn Mawr, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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