Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis and proliferative osteoarthritis, is a chronic joint disease characterized by chronic, aseptic, progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, involving other structures of the joint and chronic inflammation and osteophytes, caused by aging, strain and other factors. The incidence of this disease increases with age and is a common joint disease in the elderly. Degeneration of cartilage may begin in the late 20’s and is more common in people over 50 years of age. It affects the knee, hip, spine and other weight-bearing joints and is the most common cause of mobility in the elderly.
Clinical manifestations
1. The onset of the disease is usually over the age of 50.
2. It is most common in joints with high weight-bearing activities, knee, hip and lumbar spine joints, followed by ankle joints.
3, joint pain. It is aggravated by activity and can be relieved by rest. The sound of friction and joint stiffness can occur when moving.
4.Joint swelling. Joint effusion, soft tissue hyperplasia, and osteophytes may occur. There may be joint deformity and gap narrowing.
Diagnosis basis
1, middle-aged and elderly patients.
2, chronic pain in weight-bearing joints such as knee, hip, waist and ankle, which is aggravated by activity and relieved by rest.
3.Local pressure pain, swelling, and joint movement disorders.
4, imaging examination can be seen in joint effusion, osteophytes, joint deformity, gap narrowing, intra-articular free body and other manifestations.
5.Exclude fracture, and infectious and occupying lesions.
Auxiliary examinations
X-ray, MRI, blood count, ESR, CRP, three rheumatoid tests, joint effusion test, etc.
Treatment principles
To relieve pain and improve joint function.
Treatment methods
(1) If the symptoms are mild, recuperation, reduce weight-bearing and activities of the joint; local hot compress, topical ointment, oral anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
(2) More joint effusion: joint braking, if necessary, plaster or brace fixation; joint effusion for a long time can not subside, feasible joint puncture fluid, intra-articular injection of anti-inflammatory and analgesic compound and ozone.
(3) If the joint is dry and the friction feeling is significant, intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate gel is feasible.
(4) If the symptoms are severe, arthroscopy for joint cleaning or artificial joint replacement is feasible.