ABSTRACT
This study comprised 54 patients with hand osteoarthritis and 24 normal controls. The following criteria were assessed in all patients and controls: Joint pain, joint tenderness, grip strength, inactivity stiffness, obesity, arm girth and functional status of the hand. Radiological examination of both hands and wrists was also performed. There was a centrifugal affection of hand joints with OA with more affection of DIP joints than MCP joints. There was increased tendency of OA to increase in severity from ulnar to the radial side of hands. Symptoms of OA in the hand joints were more common in females than males. These symptoms were found to be significantly correlated with the mean number of radiologically affected joints. Grip strength was significantly decreased in patients with hand OA as compared to controls. There was a highly significant correlation between the severity and number of hand joints affected with OA and reduction in grip strength [P < 0.001]. The degree of radiological changes of hand OA was found to have a positive correlation with age. A positive correlation was demonstrated between hand OA and obesity, arm girth, OA elsewhere in the body and the presence of Heberden[s] nodes, in patients with hand OA. No statistically significant reduction in hand function was demonstrated as measured by Jebsen[s] test