Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage breakdown, bone remodeling, and joint pain, most commonly affecting the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
Mnemonic: "O.A. = Old Age
Arthritis"
CAUSES & RISK FACTORS
- Age (Most Common Risk Factor – Seen After 40 Years).
- Obesity (Increases Joint Load, Especially on Knees & Hips).
- Joint Injury (Fractures, Ligament Damage Can Lead to OA).
- Repetitive Stress (Occupational or Sports-Related Wear & Tear).
- Genetics (Family History Increases Risk).
Mnemonic: "A.O.J.R.G. =
Age, Obesity, Joint Injury, Repetitive Stress, Genetics"
PATHOLOGY OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
- Cartilage Breakdown → Loss of Shock Absorption.
- Bone Changes → Osteophytes (Bone Spurs), Sclerosis.
- Synovial Changes → Mild Inflammation & Joint Fluid Alteration.
- Muscle Weakness → Reduced Joint Stability.
Mnemonic: "C.B.S.M. =
Cartilage, Bone, Synovium, Muscle"
SYMPTOMS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
- Joint Pain (Worse with Activity, Relieved by Rest).
- Morning Stiffness (<30 min, Improves with Movement).
- Crepitus (Cracking Sound in Joint Movement).
- Joint Deformities (Heberden’s & Bouchard’s Nodes in Hands).
- Restricted Movement (Limited Flexion & Extension).
Mnemonic: "P.S.C.D.R. =
Pain, Stiffness, Crepitus, Deformity, Restricted Movement"
COMMONLY AFFECTED JOINTS
- Knees → Medial Joint Space Narrowing, Pain While Walking.
- Hips → Groin Pain, Limited Internal Rotation.
- Spine → Lower Back & Neck Stiffness (Spondylosis).
- Hands → Heberden’s (DIP) & Bouchard’s (PIP) Nodes.
Mnemonic: "K.H.S.H. =
Knees, Hips, Spine, Hands"
DIAGNOSIS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
- Clinical Diagnosis (History & Examination).
- X-ray (Best Initial Test – Shows Joint Space Narrowing, Osteophytes).
- MRI (Only Needed if X-ray Is Inconclusive).
- Synovial Fluid Analysis (Rule Out Inflammatory Arthritis – OA Fluid is Clear, Non-Inflammatory).
Mnemonic: "C.X.M.S. =
Clinical, X-ray, MRI, Synovial Fluid"
TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
1. LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS
- Weight Loss (Reduces Load on Joints).
- Exercise (Strengthens Muscles & Improves Joint Stability).
- Use of Support Devices (Knee Braces, Walking Stick).
Mnemonic: "W.E.S. =
Weight Loss, Exercise, Support Devices"
2. MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
- Paracetamol (First-Line for Mild OA Pain).
- NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac for Moderate to Severe Pain).
- Topical Agents (Capsaicin, Diclofenac Gel).
- Steroid Injections (For Severe Knee or Hip Pain).
Mnemonic: "P.N.T.S. =
Paracetamol, NSAIDs, Topicals, Steroids"
3. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
- Joint Replacement (Knee or Hip Replacement in Severe OA).
- Osteotomy (For Joint Alignment Correction).
Mnemonic: "J.O. = Joint
Replacement, Osteotomy"
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF
OSTEOARTHRITIS
- For Joint Pain & Stiffness:
- Rhus Tox, Bryonia, Calcarea Fluor, Ruta.
- For Bone & Cartilage Degeneration:
- Silicea, Symphytum, Calcarea Phos.
- For Joint Deformities (Heberden’s & Bouchard’s Nodes):
- Causticum, Natrum Sulph, Kali Carb.
Mnemonic: "R.B.C.S. =
Rhus Tox, Bryonia, Calc Fluor, Silicea for OA Pain & Stiffness"
FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS
- Definition = "O.A. = Old Age Arthritis"
- Causes = "A.O.J.R.G." (Age, Obesity, Joint Injury, Repetitive Stress, Genetics)
- Pathology = "C.B.S.M." (Cartilage, Bone, Synovium, Muscle)
- Symptoms = "P.S.C.D.R." (Pain, Stiffness, Crepitus, Deformity, Restricted Movement)
- Common Joints = "K.H.S.H." (Knees, Hips, Spine, Hands)
- Diagnosis = "C.X.M.S." (Clinical, X-ray, MRI, Synovial Fluid)
- Lifestyle = "W.E.S." (Weight Loss, Exercise, Support Devices)
- Medical = "P.N.T.S." (Paracetamol, NSAIDs, Topicals, Steroids)
- Surgical = "J.O." (Joint Replacement, Osteotomy)
- Homeopathy = "R.B.C.S." (Rhus Tox, Bryonia, Calc Fluor, Silicea for OA Pain & Stiffness)
