It’s most common among adults over 65 but people of any age can develop the disease. Prevalence rises significantly after age 50 in males and after age 40 in females. According to the American College of Rheumatology, 70% of people over 70 have X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis.
X-ray pictures of osteoarthritis can show joint cartilage deterioration, compressed spinal discs, bony nodules, and other evidence of joint damage. This article discusses osteoarthritis symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It also provides pictures of osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hand, and other joints.
Deterioration of articular (joint) cartilage is the main problem associated with knee osteoarthritis. The condition can be caused by:
Previous knee injuryRepetitive strain on the kneeFractures, ligament tears, and meniscal injury, which can affect alignment and promote wear-and-tearGeneticsObesity, which puts extra stress on weight-bearing jointsProblems with subchondral bone (the bone layer underneath cartilage)
Hip osteoarthritis is caused by deterioration of articular (joint) cartilage and wear-and-tear of the hip joint. There are several reasons this can develop:
Previous hip injuryPrevious fracture, which changes the hip alignmentGeneticsCongenital and developmental hip diseaseSubchondral bone that is too soft or too hard
Mechanical wear-and-tear or injury can cause osteoarthritis to develop. When an injury changes the alignment of a joint, it can speed up cartilage damage. The damage is usually visible in hands with enlarged joints and crooked fingers.
Bony nodules are common visible characteristics of hand osteoarthritis. Small nodules and swelling that develop near the middle joint of the fingers are referred to as Bouchard’s nodes. Nodules at the fingertip are called Heberden’s nodes.
The changes caused by a degeneration of the cervical spine region can compress one or more nerve roots. The compression of nerves can cause pain in the neck, as well as pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the arm. Although a past neck injury can lead to neck osteoarthritis years later, aging is the major risk factor or cause of neck osteoarthritis. By age 60, 90% of people will show some cervical degeneration on an X-ray.
Osteoarthritis (also referred to as a degenerative joint disease) is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones that form a joint. Cartilage loss can cause bones to rub on bone in a joint, causing considerable pain. Usually, osteoarthritis begins in a single joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. It is also classified as an autoimmune disease (i.e., immune cells attack the body’s own healthy tissues). The synovium (lining of the joint) is primarily affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but organs also can be affected. Multiple joints are usually involved with rheumatoid arthritis.
The knee replacement prosthesis has three components: femoral (metal), tibial (plastic in a metal tray), and patellar (plastic). The prosthesis replaces your damaged knee joint.
The traditional total hip replacement prosthesis, which replaces the damaged hip joint, has three parts:
A plastic cup that replaces the acetabulum (hip socket)A metal ball that replaces the femoral headA metal stem that is attached to the shaft of the femur
There are also ceramic hip replacements and other alternatives to the total hip replacement—for example, the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System.
