Medicine for Africa - Medical Information Service

RTHRITIS

Definition:
 
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is a non-inflammatory joint disease, which usually affects just one joint and which appears after the age of 50. By the age of 65, more than 80% of the population, both men and women, show signs of some degenerative joint changes. Predominantly affected are the knees, the hip bone and the small joints in the hands. During the disease process, the joint space slowly narrows up to the point that the ends of the opposing bones rub against each other. Cells in the cartilage cap of the long bones (chondrocytes) start, for so far no known reason, to excrete certain proteins which induce cell changes in the chondrocytes. This subsequently causes the destruction of the cartilaginous cap at the end of the bones. In addition, the joint space between the two adjoining bones narrows to the point that the ends of the bones rub against each other, destroying further bone tissue. Reactive changes in the underlying bone tissue (bone matrix) lead to thin-walled cyst formation as well as excessive bone growth in the area of the damaged surface (osteophytes). These small cysts often fracture and small bone fragments break off into the joint space leading to so-called 'joint mice'; they can also add considerably to the pain experienced. health problems for the upcoming decades.
 

Symptoms:
 
Joint pain is the predominant symptom, especially when it is a weight bearing joint such as the hip bone or the knee. The destruction of the bone surfaces and the reactive, excessive bone formation (the osteophytes) can also impede the range of motion of the affected joint to a considerable extent. In addition, the osteophytes can also press on a nearby nerve, as often happens at the level of the cervical vertebrae of the spinal column, and cause severe radiating pain or paresthesias in the dependent extremity or extremities.
 

Diagnosis:
 
A thorough physical examination by the physician reveals the decreased range of motion of the affected joints, and x-rays of these joints show the degree of destruction and reactive changes that took place in the bones.
 

Therapy:
 
Drug treatment includes painkillers for relieving the accompanying symptoms and anti-inflammatory medication. The only successful treatment for osteoarthritis is joint replacement where either one end of the afflicted bone is replaced (artificial hip bone) or the entire joint with both adjoining bone ends is substituted with an artificial joint (often performed for knee replacement). However, an artificial joint will only be the treatment of last resort for people whose range of motion has been so severely affected as to impede their daily life, or sometimes if the pain experienced can not be controlled otherwise. The disadvantage of artificial joints is that they have only a limited 'life span', after which they loosen slowly from the surrounding bone tissue. A second replacement will then become necessary which will have an even shorter 'life span' than the first one.
 

Prevention:
 
Unfortunately, there is no preventive care available since the cause of osteoarthritis is not yet completely understood nor can its advancement be successfully stopped.
 
You have to visit your physician (orthopedic physician or specially trained internist), in order to evaluate to what extent your arthritic pains are caused by degenerative joint changes and how badly your joints have already been destroyed by this process. With the help of x-rays and a thorough physical examination, your physician will be able to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Should you be in need of an artificial joint, your physician will be able to discuss with you up-front the advantages and disadvantages regarding this operation in your special case.

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DISCLAIMER: The above article is only intended to provide general information regarding this topic. It is not intended and does NOT replace the need to consult a medical or other professional person, if you have or believe to have this disease/disorder. While the article was researched, written and reviewed by medical professionals, and Medicine for Africa, its staff and publisher made every effort to assure accuracy and correctness, it does not claim to be complete, correct or to reflect the very latest stand of medical/scientific knowledge in the disease’s/syndrome’s pathology, diagnostic and/or therapeutic development. Medicine for Africa, its founder, management, staff, writers, reviewers or publishers may NOT be made responsible or legally bound to any information provided above, and cannot be held liable to any conclusions or decisions the reader may draw after reading this article. The reader is explicitly advised to consult a licensed physician and to present his/her specific situation before making any health related decisions.