Rheumatology, Autoimmunity and Orthopedics

Osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a most common type of Arthritis and a degenerative disorder in nature caused by the trauma, ageing joints and obesity etc. Sometimes it is called degenerative joint disease.  It is common chronic condition of the joints. In normal joints, a cartilage which is a rubbery material found at covering of the bone, provides a smooth motion of between the joints and act as a cushion between the Bones. But in Osteoarthritis, cartilage breaks down which results in inflammation, pain, swelling, stiffness etc. In worse condition cartilage wears away and rubbing of bone against which results in the deformity or joint destruction. OA occurs most commonly after 40 years of age and typically develops gradually over a period of years. Patients with OAmay have joint pain on only one side of the body and it primarily affects the knees, hands, hips, feet, and spine. In early OA, the pain is minor and may take the form of mildstiffness in the morning. In the later stages of OA, inflammation develops; the patient may experience pain even when thejoint is not being used; and he or she may suffer permanent loss of the normal range of motion in that joint.Until the late 1980s, OA was regarded as an inevitable part of aging, caused by simple "wear and tear" on the joints. Thisview has been replaced by recent research into cartilage formation. OA is now considered to be the end result of severaldifferent factors contributing to cartilage damage, and is classified as either primary or secondary.