Osteo-arthritis Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is osteoarthritis?
A chronic, degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, decreased mobility, and functional impairment.
What are the key characteristics of osteoarthritis?
Increased thickness & sclerosis of subchondral bone, hyaline cartilage loss, marginal osteophytes, synovitis, weakness of bridging muscles, capsule thickening, and synovial space thinning.
How does osteoarthritis prevalence change with age?
It increases with age and is more common after 50-65 years.
Which gender is more commonly affected by osteoarthritis?
Women.
Which joints are most commonly affected by osteoarthritis?
The hip, knees, and first metacarpophalangeal joints.
Which parts of the spine does osteoarthritis commonly affect?
The cervical and lumbosacral spine.
Which joints are usually spared in osteoarthritis?
The wrist, elbows, and ankles.
What daily factors contribute to the development of osteoarthritis?
Stresses applied to weight-bearing joints.
What does the acronym βAGIFTOβ stand for in osteoarthritis risk factors?
Age, Gender/Genetics, Injury, Frequent use, Triggers, Cartilage issues, Overuse.
What is the early pathological change in osteoarthritis?
Swelling of the cartilage.
What biochemical process leads to cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis?
Chondrocytes trigger matrix metalloproteinases, leading to cartilage breakdown.
What happens when cartilage repair is disordered in osteoarthritis?
Ulcerations expose the subchondral bone, leading to microfractures.
What is the characteristic feature of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis?
It becomes abnormally sclerotic.
What is primary osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis without an underlying disorder.
How is osteoarthritis classified based on joint involvement?
Localized (2-3 joints) or Generalized (3+ joints).
What are Heberdenβs and Bouchardβs nodes?
Heberdenβs nodes: Hard or bony swellings of the distal interphalangeal joints. Bouchardβs nodes: Nodules of the proximal interphalangeal joints.
What is secondary osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis due to an underlying cause.
List some causes of secondary osteoarthritis.
Pre-existing joint damage, gout, vascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Pagetβs disease, metabolic conditions, acromegaly, hemochromatosis, hemoglobinopathies, and neuropathies.
Describe the pain in osteoarthritis.
Chronic, insidious, progressive, worsens with movement, minimal at rest.
What is a common symptom after periods of inactivity in osteoarthritis?
Joint stiffness.
What are the key clinical features of osteoarthritis?
Pain, stiffness, limitation of movement, joint swelling, tenderness, abnormal gait, crepitus.
Which blood tests are used in osteoarthritis investigations?
ESR, CRP, and highly sensitive CRP.
What imaging findings are characteristic of osteoarthritis?
Loss of joint spaces, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, subchondral cysts.
Which imaging techniques help diagnose osteoarthritis?
MRI (early detection), ultrasound, arthroscopy.
