Known Risk Factors
- Being overweight
- Age and gender: Most cases occur in middle-aged patients. After age 55, more women than men are affected.
- Family history of osteoarthritis
- A joint injury or defect
- Abnormally formed joints
Surgical Treatments (if needed)
- Arthroscopic surgery to trim damaged cartilage and wash out the joint
- Cartilage restoration to replace damaged or missing cartilage in younger patients
- Surgical alteration of bone alignment to relieve stress on the bone or joint (osteotomy)
- Fusion of bones, usually in the spine (arthrodesis)
- Total or partial replacement of an injured joint with an artificial joint (most often with knees or hips)
Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Also known as: Degenerative joint disease, Hypertrophic osteoarthritis, OA
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that causes pain in your joints. Most commonly affected are joints in the hands, knees, hips and spine.
Osteoarthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. It can also lead to stiffness. You will have less motion in your joints. Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease because it breaks down the cartilage where bones meet. This loss of cartilage causes your bones to rub together at the joint. This makes the joint become damaged.
Diagnosis
To diagnose osteoarthritis, your doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical examination. In some cases, diagnosis may also require X-rays or testing a fluid sample from an affected joint. Your doctor may also want to do blood tests to rule out other diseases.
Treatment
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but you can manage your symptoms with exercise, weight control, proper rest and pain relievers.
Common Symptoms:
- Pain in the joints
- Swelling in the joints
- Stiffness in the joines
- Reduced movement