It is a chronic degenerative disease that progressively destroys joint cartilage. It is also called osteoarthrosis. Almost 100% of people over 65 years of age have radiological signs of osteoarthritis, although many of them show no symptoms.
The exact cause is unknown, but risk or promoting factors have been described: obesity, high and repetitive physical activity, nutritional factors and genetic factors.
Joint pain is the main symptom and may be accompanied by stiffness and limitation of movement.
It is diagnosed by clinical history and physical examination. In most cases, imaging tests will be performed to complete the study (radiography, tomography or magnetic resonance imaging).
Treatment is aimed at relieving pain, improving functional capacity and delaying the progression of the disease. Analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy will be used. Progression will be prevented by correcting risk factors and protecting the joint from repeated use or overloading activities.
- National Institute for Health Care and Excellence. Osteoarthritis: care and management in adults. NICE, 2014. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg177 (Accessed on April 15, 2015).
- Jordan KM. EULAR Recommendations 2003: an evidence based approach to the management of knee osteoarthritis: Report of a Task Force of the Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutic Trials (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62:1145.
- Zhang W. EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of hip osteoarthritis: report of a task force of the EULAR Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT). Ann Rheum Dis 2005; 64:669.
- Hochberg MC. American College of Rheumatology 2012 recommendations for the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies in osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2012; 64:465.
- David T. Felson. Osteoartritis. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19ª Edición. 2226:2232.
