ABSTRACT
Background: Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and incapacitation Worldwide. Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology and pattern of osteoarthritis at Ogbaku, Imo State University Teaching Hospital annex, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, South-east Nigeria. Study Design: A retrospective epidemiological study. Methodology: One hundred and six case notes of patients managed for osteoarthritis between January 2009 and October 2010 were studied. Simple statistical methods like percentages were used for data analysis. Results: Out of 106 cases studied, 72(67.9%) were females while 43(32.1%) were males. The highest percentage of cases (34%) occurred in people aged 65-74 years followed by people aged 55-64 years (24.5%). Younger people (45-54 years) were the least affected. Farmers (24.5%) were the most affected occupational group followed by athletes (18.9%) and then traders (17%). Civil servants were the least affected. The knee (41.5%) was the most frequently affected joint followed by the hip (22.6%). The least affected joints were the wrist (1.9%) and the elbow (1.9%). Conclusion: The study shows that osteoarthritis occurred most in people aged 65-74 yrs and the knee was the most frequently affected joint in the body.