What Is Osteoarthritis?:

What Is Osteoarthritis?: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA, also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or in more colloquial terms \"wear and tear\"), is a condition in which low-grade inflammation results in pain in the joints, caused by wearing of the cartilage that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints and destruction or decrease of synovial fluid that lubricates those joints.

As the bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, the patient experiences pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing.

Due to decreased movement because of the pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments may become more lax. OA is the most common form of arthritis.

The word is derived from the Greek word \"osteo\", meaning \"of the bone\", \"arthro\", meaning \"joint\", and \"itis\", meaning inflammation, although many sufferers have little or no inflammation.

Keeping this in mind, other closely related pathologies include pseudo-arthrosis.

This is derived from the Greek words pseudo, meaning \"false\", and arthrosis, meaning \"joint.\"

Radiographic diagnosis results in diagnosis of a fracture within a joint, which is not to be confused with osteoarthritis which is a degenerative pathology affecting a high incidence of distal phalangeal joints of female patients.

OA affects nearly 21 million people in the United States, accounting for 25% of visits to primary care physicians, and half of all NSAID (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) prescriptions.

It is estimated that 80% of the population will have radiographic evidence of OA by age 65, although only 60% of those will be symptomatic.

Treatment is with NSAIDs, local injections of glucocorticoid or hyaluronan, and in severe cases, with joint replacement surgery.

There has been no cure for OA, as cartilage has not been induced to regenerate.

However, if OA is caused by cartilage damage (for example as a result of an injury) Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation may be a possible treatment.

Clinical trials employing tissue-engineering methods have demonstrated regeneration of cartilage in damaged knees, including those that had progressed to osteoarthritis.

Further, in January 2007, Johns Hopkins University was offering to license a technology of this kind, [4] listing several clinical competitors in its market analysis.

What Is Osteoarthritis?: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=268

Osteoarthritis: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=268

Introduction: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=268

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints, and is the name given to a group of over 200 diseases.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, affecting many people in the UK.

The most commonly affected joints are the knees, the hips, hands, feet, and spine.

The risk of developing the condition increases with age.

It mainly affects people over the age of 40, and is most common among those over the age of 65.

In fact, by the age of 65, around 50% of people have OA in one or more of their joints, and around 10% have some disability caused by it.

To explain osteoarthritis, it is useful to understand the way your joints work.

A joint is where two bones meet, such as in your knee and your hip.

A layer of hard tissue called cartilage covers the ends of the bones, and acts like a cushion when you put pressure on the joint.

Between the two areas of cartilage is a thick liquid called synovial fluid.

This fluid, produced by an outer membrane, lubricates the joint, which helps it to move easily and smoothly.

Ligaments and tendons then keep your bones in place, and stop them from moving too much or dislocating.

When OA affects your joint, the cartilage becomes damaged and thin.

Your body tries to repair itself, so the bone underneath becomes thicker, and changes shape.

The bone at the edge of the joint sometimes begins to grow outwards, and bony spurs, or 'osteophytes' can form.

The membrane surrounding the joint can also become inflamed.

The damage then often causes the onset of symptoms, especially in large joints such as the knees and hips.

In severe OA, chalky deposits of calcium crystals form in the cartilage (calcification), and cause the joint to become red, hot, and swollen.

This is a complication called pseudogout.

What Is Osteoarthritis?: hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/osteoarthritis.html

What Is Osteoarthritis?: hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/osteoarthritis.html

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints.

You can think of osteoarthritis as a \"wear and tear\" disease.

It usually affects your knees or hips, but can occur in your hands, feet and spine.

It causes the cartilage on the end of your bones to get rougher and thinner.

The bone beneath compensates by thickening and growing outwards, creating outgrowths (osteophytes).

These make your knees look knobbly.

The capsule around the joint also thickens and becomes inflamed.

What Is Osteoarthritis?: www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068795

What Is Osteoarthritis?: www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068795

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the UK.

OA mainly affects the joint cartilage and the bone tissue next to the cartilage.

What Is Osteoarthritis?: www.arthritiscare.org.uk/AboutArthritis/...tions/Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

It usually develops gradually, over time.

Several different joints can be affected, but osteoarthritis is most frequently seen in the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine.

Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but the condition may settle down after a number of years and there is plenty you can do to relieve your symptoms.

What Is Osteoarthritis?: www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/osteoarthritis.htm

Osteoarthritis is a disease affecting the joints and affects almost everybody as they get older.

Around 8 out of 10 people over the age of 50 are affected.

The process starts with cartilage becoming thin and uneven and then over time, perhaps wearing out completely.

At the same time, the joint capsule becomes thicker and more synovial (lubricating) fluid is manufactured which makes the joint swell.

In addition to cartilage degeneration, bony spurs grow causing inflammation in the surrounding tissues.

Osteoarthritis can involve all joints of the body, but is most commonly found in the fingers, knees, hips and spine.