1.

Definition
Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is the
most common chronic condition of the joints, affecting approximately 27 million Americans.
OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small
joints of the fingers and the bases of the thumb and big toe.

In normal joints, a firm, rubbery material called cartilage covers the end of each bone. Cartilage
provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion and acts as a cushion between the bones.
In OA, the cartilage breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. As
OA worsens over time, bones may break down and develop growths called spurs. Bits of bone
or cartilage may chip off and float around in the joint. In the body, an inflammatory process
occurs and cytokines (proteins) and enzymes develop that further damage the cartilage. In the
final stages of OA, the cartilage wears away and bone rubs against bone leading to joint damage
and more pain.
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.php

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a long-term chronic disease characterized by the deterioration of

cartilage in joints which results in bones rubbing together and creating stiffness, pain, and
impaired movement. The disease most commonly affects the joints in the knees, hands, feet,
and spine and is relatively common in shoulder and hip joints.
https://www.who.int/medicines/areas/priority_medicines/Ch6_12Osteo.pdf

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, which mainly affects the articular cartilage. It is
associated with ageing and will most likely affect the joints that have been continually stressed
throughout the years including the knees, hips, fingers, and lower spine region.

Osteoarthritis is already one of the ten most disabling diseases in developed countries.
Farming 1-9 years increases the risk of osteoarthritis 4.5 times; farming 10 or more years
increases the risk 9.3 times.
Worldwide estimates are that 9.6% of men and 18.0% of women aged over 60 years have
symptomatic osteoarthritis.
80% of those with osteoarthritis will have limitations in movement, and 25% cannot perform
their major daily activities of life.
https://www.who.int/chp/topics/rheumatic/en/

Imaging
Figure 1

A) Antero-posterior weight bearing radiographs of a patient with joint space narrowing and
osteophyte formation consistent with bilateral medial osteoarthritis of the knee. Joint pace
narrowing is greater in the right knee (arrow) compare with the left knee.
B) A magnified view of the right knee joint. The arrow denotes medial JSN. Osteophyte
formation can be seen on the femur and tibia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306456/#!po=0.595238