Classification of Osteoarthritis
Topic Overview
Osteoarthritis
is a common
cartilage
condition and a major cause of pain and
disability in older adults. Primary osteoarthritis
results from changes over time often linked to things such as age, obesity, and
a family history of osteoarthritis. Secondary
osteoarthritis is caused by other conditions that damage cartilage.
Types of osteoarthritis
| Primary osteoarthritis | Secondary osteoarthritis |
| It is usually limited to one or a small number of
joints. | It may be limited to a small number of joints if
injury-related, or it may be in joints throughout body if disease-related. |
|
It is seen in spine, hips, knees, thumbs, and top
two sets of finger joints.
|
It is seen in hips, ankles, shoulders, wrists, and
the middle set of finger joints.
|
| No specific inflammatory or metabolic condition
known to be associated with arthritis is present. | Conditions that cause damage to cartilage may be
present, such as:
- Inherited diseases of iron, calcium, or
copper storage, such as
hemochromatosis
,
hyperparathyroidism
, or
Wilson's disease
.
- Neurologic disorders
that result in the loss of nerve function.
- Congenital diseases that
cause an imbalance in the joints.
- Bone disorders that affect
joints.
|
| There is no history of specific injury or
trauma. | There may be a history of injury to joints, such as
fractures and tears, or history of trauma to joints, such as repetitive heavy
lifting or kneeling. |
Credits
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
|
Last Revised
| April 8, 2011 |
Last Revised:
April 8, 2011
