Abstract
Osteoarthritis is caused by a degenerative process that takes place in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. It involves deterioration of the articular cartilage, with an early alteration in its biomechanical properties followed by a progressive loss of thickness. The cartilage becomes rugose, and in time the subchondral bone may even become exposed. Clinically, these structural lesions manifest themselves by the presence of crepitus. The thickness of the cartilage may be assessed radiologically by the width of the joint space. The loss of cartilage is thought to be more accentuated at the sites where mechanical pressure is greatest and hence results in radiographs as an asymmetrical narrowing of the joint space.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Mechanical pain of the hip and knees with crepitus and limited mobility, no periarticular lesions, obesity.
- 2.
Why do we take the trouble to exclude skin lesions? Of course! It could be psoriatic arthritis.
- 3.
Deforming, degenerative polyarthropathy at a young age, involvement of metacarpophalangeal joints, intercurrent inflammatory episodes.
- 4.
Yes, with the possibility of osteoporosis. Hypogonadism, a frequent manifestation of hemochromatosis, is one of the main causes of male osteoporosis.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer-Verlag London
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
da Silva, J.A.P., Woolf, A.D. (2010). Osteoarthritis. In: Rheumatology in Practice. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-581-9_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-581-9_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-580-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-581-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)