(GP)

Overview

• Joint disease characterised by noninflammatory degeneration of the joint complex
• F>M, incidence increases with age (most common in people >50 yrs old)
• Most common joints affected → knee > hip > hand
• Risk Factors → obesity, excessive joint loading, family history, history of joint injury, female, age >50
• OA vs RA

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

• Pain → during or after exertion, relieved by rest (typical of non-inflammatory conditions)
  • May have morning stiffness <30 mins
• Knee, hip, hand or spine inolvement (hand OA spares the MCP and involves the PIPs & DIPs → differentiates from RA)
• Bony Deformities → heberden nodes (DIPs), bouchard nodes (PIPs), squaring at base of thumb, varus deformity
  • Heberden and Bouchard nodes occur due to osteophyte formation
• Limited range of motion
• Malalignment → causes valgum and varum deformities
• Crepitus
• Asymmetrical joint inolvement