[Educational paper on osteoarthritis]

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease. The main pathologic manifestation of disease is local destruction of cartilage in diarthrodial joint. New bone formation in marginal surface in the joint is a sign progressive disease. Many systemic and local factors are introduced in initiate and progression of osteoarthritis include age, sex, weight, race, genetic background, bone densitometry, sex hormones, endocrine and metabolic disease, nutrition status, major and frequent minor trauma to joint, occupational or exercise over stresses to joint, congenital or developmental defect in joint and previous infectious or inflammatory joint diseases. Early clinical manifestations often are intermittent mild pain in joint, frequently after joint use, mild stiffness with vague pain in periarthicular muscle. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is simply with history, physical examination and X-Ray. At now there isn't definitive laboratory test for diagnosis. Overall osteoarthritis is destructive joint disease without cure, but we must be following the patients and don't leave them until complete cartilage destruction. Careful approach of physician with these patients can prevent more damage or at least delay it