Diagnostic indicators of osteoarthritis OA refers to a joint disease caused by a variety of factors that lead to fibrosis, cracking, ulceration, and loss of articular cartilage. The etiology is not clear, and its occurrence is related to age, obesity, inflammation, trauma, and genetic factors. The pathology is characterized by degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage, subchondral bone sclerosis or cystic changes, osteophytes at the joint edges, synovial hyperplasia, contracture of the joint capsule, ligament relaxation or contracture, muscle atrophy and weakness, etc. OA is more common in middle-aged and elderly patients, more women than men, with a prevalence of up to 50% in people over 60 years of age and up to 80% in people aged 75 years. OA is often found in joints with high load and high activity, such as the knee, spine (cervical and lumbar spine), hip, ankle, hand and other joints. OA can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary OA occurs mostly in the middle-aged and elderly, no clear systemic or local causes, and genetic and physical factors have a certain relationship. Secondary OA can occur in young adults and can be secondary to trauma, inflammation, joint instability, chronic and repeated cumulative strain or congenital disease. Symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis 1, joint pain and pressure pain: initially mild or moderate intermittent hidden pain, better at rest, aggravated by activity, pain often associated with weather changes. In the late stage, there may be persistent pain or nocturnal pain. There is localized pressure pain in the joints, which is especially obvious when accompanied by joint swelling. 2. Joint stiffness: stiffness and tightness of the joints when waking up in the morning, also known as morning stiffness, can be relieved after activity. Joint stiffness is aggravated when the air pressure decreases or the air humidity increases, and the duration is usually short, often a few minutes to ten minutes, rarely more than 30 minutes. 3. Joint enlargement: Enlargement and deformation of the hand joints are obvious, and Heberden’s nodes and Bouchard’s nodes may appear. Some of the knee joints may also be enlarged due to the formation of osteoid or joint effusion. 4. Bone rubbing sound (sensation): Due to the destruction of articular cartilage and uneven joint surface, bone rubbing sound (sensation) appears when the joint moves, mostly in the knee joint. 5.Joint weakness and activity disorders: joint pain, decreased mobility, muscle atrophy, soft tissue contracture can cause joint weakness, soft legs or joint locking when walking, inability to fully straighten or activity disorders. 2, laboratory tests: blood routine, protein electrophoresis, immune complexes and serum complement and other indicators are generally in the normal range. Patients with synovitis may have mildly elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and hematocrit (ESR). Patients with secondary OA may have abnormal laboratory tests of the primary disease. 3, X-ray examination: asymmetric joint space narrowing, subchondral bone sclerosis and (or) cystic changes, joint edge hyperplasia and bone superfluous formation or with varying degrees of joint effusion, some joints can be seen in the free body or joint deformation. It is generally not difficult to diagnose OA based on the patient’s symptoms, physical signs, x-ray performance and laboratory tests.