What can be caused by osteophytes in the knee? Osteophytes in the knee can cause arthritis. Rib osteophytes can cause hyperplasia around the knee and in the tibia, femur, and tibial plateau, causing joint unevenness, joint wear, and cartilage destruction, resulting in arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain and swelling. The destruction of cartilage can damage the synovial membrane and cause localized fluid accumulation, which can be severe enough to cause pain, swelling and infection. Osteomalacia can also cause changes in the vertical line, making the knee joint unstable and causing serious deformities in movement and deformation of the knee joint, causing pain in the surrounding muscles, ligamentous laxity, and bursal changes.