ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Osteoarthritis

What is Osteoarthritis?

21:55 - 4 May , 2021

Disease

It is a condition that is believed to be due to a genetic predisposition in which there is a progressive wear of the articular cartilage, causing pain, inflammation, and lack of flexibility in the joints.

In addition to family history, other risk factors have been identified, such as overweight and obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, nervous system disorders, among others. Also, its incidence is higher in people over 60 years old.

All joints can be attacked by osteoarthritis, but the most affected are the hands, feet, knees, and spine. 

Signs and symptoms Osteoarthritis

The damaged joint presents acute pain after long periods of immobilization, such as after sleeping for several hours or when exercised excessively, making the movement complicated by the stiffness generated.


However, if we do not exercise the muscles that support the joint, the pain, swelling, and stiffness will increase as we do not have the necessary muscle strength for movement.

Diagnosis and treatment Osteoarthritis

Through the analysis of your medical history and a physical examination it is possible to diagnose osteoarthritis, but it will usually be necessary to perform imaging studies such as X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and know the degree of severity of the joint injury. Joint fluid aspiration is also used to rule out other types of serious conditions that could cause the disease.

Treatment should include diet, physical therapy, and exercise, accompanied by painkillers and anti-inflammatories, seeking to reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness to improve the ability to move.

If the foregoing does not work, the support of orthopedic devices such as canes, crutches, and others, will be necessary to move, or arthroscopic surgery to correct damage or replace the joint.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances, in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

We put our skills and knowledge at your service to provide you and your loved ones with cutting-edge treatments and highly specialized medical care in the following procedures:

  • Arthroscopic surgery.
  • Partial and total joint replacement surgery (prostheses).
  • Trauma surgery.
  • Hand surgery. 
  • Foot and ankle surgery.
  • Spinal surgery.

We treat injuries such as:

  • Dislocation.
  • Chronic bone and joint diseases.
  • Ligaments.
  • Spinal diseases.
  • Joint replacements.

 Fuentes

  • arthritis.org 
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • fisioterapia-online.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Villalobos CFE, Cruz LF, Meraz LTG, et al. Manejo quirúrgico y no quirúrgico de la osteoartritis en el atleta. Una revisión sistemática de estudios recientes. Ortho-tips. 2021;17(1):32-42. doi:10.35366/99165. 
  • López-Serna MÁ, Torres-Carrillo N, Torres-Carrillo NM, et al. Identificación del polimorfismo G915C en el gen del factor de crecimiento transformante-β1 (TGF-β1) en pacientes con osteoartritis de rodilla. Bioquimia. 2007;32(Suppl: A):68.
  • Muñoz MA. Validación de un instrumento para el automanejo del dolor en el adulto mayor con osteoartritis. CuidArte. 2016;5(10):8-19.
  • Díaz-Borjón A, d’Hyver-de las Deses C, Espinosa-Morales R, et al. Consenso multidisciplinario de diagnóstico, manejo farmacológico y no farmacológico de la osteoartritis y el papel del sulfato de glucosamina cristalino de prescripción como una nueva opción terapéutica. Med Int Mex. 2020;36(3):365-389.

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