Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Osteoarthritis: Signs, Symptoms and Pathophysiology

Jane Austen^{* *}Correspondence: Jane Austen, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan, Email:

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About the Study

One in seven persons in the United States suffers from Osteoarthritis (OA), a kind of degenerative joint disease caused by the degradation of joint cartilage and underlying bone. It is thought to be the fourth most common cause of disability worldwide. Joint pain and stiffness are the most prevalent symptoms. Typically, the symptoms develop gradually over years. At first, they might only happen after activity, but with time, they might happen all the time. In addition, there may be joint swelling, a reduction in range of motion, and, when the back is involved, arm and leg paralysis or numbness. The two joints at the tips of the fingers and the one at the base of the thumbs, the knee and hip joints, the joints in the neck and lower back, are the joints that are most frequently affected. One side of the body's joints is frequently more impacted than the other. The symptoms may interfere with regular tasks and work. Only the joints are afflicted, as opposed to internal organs in some other kinds of arthritis.

Previous joint damage, aberrant joint or limb development, and genetic factors are among the causes. Overweight individuals, people with different-length legs, and people who work in occupations that put a lot of strain on their joints are at higher risk. The mechanical stress on the joint and low-grade inflammatory processes are thought to be the primary causes of osteoarthritis. It grows as the underlying bone deteriorates and cartilage is removed. Muscle atrophy may take place when pain makes it difficult to exercise. Typically, a diagnosis is made primarily on signs and symptoms, with additional testing such as medical imaging being done to confirm or exclude other conditions. Osteoarthritis does not cause hot or red joints like rheumatoid arthritis does.

Exercise, reducing joint stress through rest or the use of a cane, support groups, and pain medications are all part of the treatment. Those who are overweight may benefit from losing weight. NSAIDs like naproxen or ibuprofen as well as paracetamol (acetaminophen) are examples of possible painkillers. Due to the paucity of evidence regarding the advantages, dangers of addiction, and other side effects, long-term opioid use is not advised. If there is persistent difficulty despite various therapies, joint replacement surgery may be a possibility. The normal lifespan of an artificial joint is 10 to 15 years.

Stem cell transplantation, in which patients get injections of either autologous chondrocytes or allogenic mesenchymal stem cells, is another possible treatment for osteoarthritis. The most prevalent type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, affects 237 million people worldwide, or 3.3% of the total population. As people age, it occurs more frequently. Approximately 10% of men and 18% of women over 60 have the condition. About 2% of years spent with a handicap are attributable to osteoarthritis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The primary symptom is pain, which impairs movement and frequently causes stiffness. Usually, prolonged activity exacerbates the discomfort, which is then alleviated by rest. The most common time for stiffness is in the morning, and it usually goes away within 30 minutes of starting the day's activities, however it can come back after periods of inactivity. When the diseased joint is manipulated, notably the shoulder and knee joint, osteoarthritis can produce a crackling sound (known as "crepitus"). Additionally, joint locking and instability are common complaints.

Due to the discomfort and stiffness, these symptoms would interfere with their regular activities. Studies have shown conflicting results, although some persons claim that chilly temperatures, high humidity levels, or a drop in barometric pressure because increased discomfort. Although theoretically any joint in the body could be damaged, osteoarthritis most frequently affects the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees. Movement patterns, such as gait, are often impacted when osteoarthritis worsens. The most frequent reason for a knee joint effusion is osteoarthritis.

Heberden's nodes (on the distal interphalangeal joints) or Bouchard's nodes (on the proximal interphalangeal joints) are hard bony enlargements that can develop in smaller joints, such as those at the fingers. Although they are not always painful, they significantly restrict the range of motion of the fingers. Bunions may form as a result of toe osteoarthritis, which makes them swollen or red.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Although osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can result in significant cartilage loss and morphological harm to other joint tissues, the illness's early phases are marked by more mild biochemical alterations. Compressive force expelling water and hydrostatic and osmotic pressure drawing water maintain a delicate balance in the water content of healthy cartilage. Collagen fibers apply the compressive force, whereas cartilage proteoglycans and the Gibbs-Donnan effect produce osmotic pressure, which has a tendency to pull water.