Osteoarthritis : An Elderly Problem

Prachi Pandey

Arthritis (from Greek arthro - , joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where damage occurs to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55.

There are many different forms of arthritis, each of which has a different reason. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) occurs following trauma to the joint, following an infection of the joint or simply as a result of aging. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that abnormal anatomy may contribute to early development of osteoarthritis. Other forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases in which the body is attacking itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint that results in subsequent inflammation. Additionally, there is a less common form of gout that is caused by the formation of rhomboidal shaped crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This form of gout is known as pseudogout. Arthritis isn’t just 1 disease; it’s a complex disorder that comprises more than 100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any stage of life. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These 2 forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, yet they often share a common symptom—persistent joint pain. The joint pain of arthritis can appear as hip pain, knee pain, hand pain, or wrist pain, as well as joint pain in other areas of the body. If joint pain, stiffness and/or swelling persists for more than 2 weeks, the person may have arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis. It is characterized by mildto debilitating pain in the hands and joints such as knees, hips, feet and back. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the disease is most prevalent among individuals 45 years of age and older. Women are more prone to the disease. The disease causes cartilage breakdown found in joints. This breakdown removes the buffer between bones and the resulting bone against bone friction causes pain and eventual loss of movement. Symptoms include joint pain or aching (often after exercise or extended periods of pressure on weight-bearing joints) and limited or eventual loss of range of motion.

As the opposing cartilage surfaces wear away, the knee collapses causing deformities such as bowleggedness(varus) or knock knees (valgus). These deformities can contribute to pain and functional losses of the knee.

Factors to get osteoarthritis :

There are a wide array of factors that cause the development and progression of the disease.

Risk factors include:

• Aging
• Obesity
• Joint injuries (sports, work or accidents)
• Genetics

Diagnosis of osteoarthritis :

An individual must seek the diagnosis of a physician. After a physical examination and full detailing of symptoms have been discussed, the physician may also recommend X-rays to confirm presence of the disease.

Treatment options :

The treatment options for osteoarthritis, include:

• Joint and muscle exercises to improve flexibility and strength
• Weight reduction to relieve stress on weight-bearing joints
• Anti-inflammatory drugs for degenerative joint disorders
• Heat/Cold therapies
• Synovectomy (surgical removal of inflamed synovial tissue)
• Osteotomy (restructuring of the bones to shift stresses from diseased to more healthy tissue)
• Partial knee replacements (unicompartmental knee - replaces only diseased portion of the joint)
• Total knee replacement (used when severe osteoarthritis is present)

References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthritis

2. www.arthritis.org

3. http://www.medicinenet.com/arthritis

4. http://arthritis.about.com

5.http://www.AmazingArthritisPainRelief.com

About Authors:

Prachi Pandey, M.Pharm
Birla Institute Of Engineering And Technology, INDIA
Mail id-prachipandey21@gmail.com