Topic 9: Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease

Question 1

__________: a bony juxta-articular outgrowth or nodule.

Answer 1

Osteophytes

Question 2

_________: conversion of bone into a hard, ivory-like mass.

Answer 2

Eburnation

Question 3

________ and _______: the bony overgrowth in OA

Answer 3

Spurring and lipping

Question 4

_________: Inflammation of the synovium

Answer 4

Synovitis

Question 5

_________: vertical clefts in the cartilage

Answer 5

Fissures

Question 6

Stage of OA where fine flakes of superficial cartilage become loosened and flake off.

Answer 6

Fibrillation

Question 7

______ stage OA
- Repeated stresses increase wear to the load-bearing portions of the articular cartilage
- Articular cartilage is avascular and aneural; there is no inflammation or pain (also has poor
healing capability)
- This stage may last for years

Answer 7

Mild (early)

Question 8

_______ stage of OA

• Pronounced breakdown of articular surfaces
• Superficial collagen fibres to fray from the surface of the articular cartilage (fibrillation).
• Small fragments from fissuring can irritate the synovia and cause inflammation; ‘synovitis’
• Vertical clefts develop in the cartilage (fissures) – the first change visible to the naked eye)

Answer 8

Moderate (beginning of later stage of OA)

Question 9

________ stage OA)

• Increased inflammation of synovium Capsule and ligament laxity
• Fissures in the cartilage extend further eventually exposing the subchondral bone; ‘central erosion’ - subchondral bone is highly innervated (high potential for pain)
• Friction of subchondral bone (bone on bone articulation) becomes polished and ivory-like in appearance; ‘eburnation’

Answer 9

Severe (later stage OA)

Question 10

The Kellgren and Lawrence system is a method of classifying the severity of ____ ________ using five grades. This classification was proposed by Kellgren et al. in 1957 2 and later accepted by WHO in 1961.

Answer 10

Knee Osteoarthritis