Osteoarthritis Flashcards
(59 cards)
describe the healing potential of articular cartilage
poor
unable to regenerate if damage
what cartilage covers the bones in synovial joints?
hyaline cartilage
what is hyaline cartilage made of?
water
collagen
proteoglycans
chondrocytes
what is primary osteoarthritis?
osteoarthritis when no cause is identified
what is involved in the conservative management of osteoarthritis?
NSAIDs
weight loss if needed
physiotherapy
steroid injections
how many steroid injections can be given for OA?
up to three per year
what is the risk of steroid injections in OA?
can cause further damage and accelerate the OA
what is TKR?
total knee replacement
when should TKR be considered for knee osteoarthritis?
moderate OA on X-ray
severe pain, not controlled conservatively
what characterises OA?
cartilage loss and accompanying periarticular change
what disease is often called “wear and tear” of the joints?
osteoarthritis
what joints can be affected by OA?
any synovial joint
most common = knees, hips and hands
what are the three main pathological changes in OA?
localised loss of hyaline cartilage
remodelling of adjacent bone
new bone formation at joints
what are the two main types of OA?
localised
generalised
what is localised OA?
osteoarthritis affecting one joint area
what is generalised OA?
OA at either the spinal/hand joints and at least two other joint regions
what two characteristic features can be seen in OA of the hand?
heberden’s nodes
bouchard’s nodes
where are heberden’s nodes found?
DIP joints
where are bouchard’s nodes found?
PIP joints
what is the classical clinical presentation of OA?
pain
morning stiffness <30 mins
instability
describe the pain in OA
gets worse with joint use
name five features found on examination of OA
joint line tenderness crepitus bony swelling deformity limitation of motion
how is a diagnosis of OA made?
clinical suspicion
x-rays
what is seen on x-ray of OA?
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Sclerosis
Subchondral cysts
