Osteoarthritis most often occurs in the hands (at the ends of the fingers and thumbs), spine (neck and lower back), knees, and hips.

Cartilage is the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones. In healthy joints cartilage acts as shock absorber when you weight is exerted on the joint. The slippery surface of the cartilage allows the bones to move smoothly. When a joint problem develops osteoarthritis the cartilage gradually wears out and the bone underneath thickens.

How common is Osteoarthritis (OA)?

Osteoarthritis affects one out of eight people between the ages of 18 and 79. According to Arthritis Foundation, approximately 16 million Americans suffer from Osteoarthritis, three times as many women as men.

The COPCORD study in Malaysia showed that 9.3% of adult Malaysians complained of knee problems with a sharp rise to 23% in those over 55 years of age and 39% in those over 65 years old.

At what age does Osteoarthritis (OA) occur?

Most common age group for osteoarthritis falls within the 60-65 years and this is considered a normal course of events like losing hair or getting grey hair. But when it occurs in the late 40's or early 50's, it is attributed to bad lifestyle.

What causes Osteoarthritis (OA)?

Primary osteoarthritis is mostly related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. In advanced cases, there is a total loss of the cartilage cushion between the bones of the joints. Loss of cartilage cushion causes friction between the bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility.

Secondary osteoarthritis is caused by disease or conditions, such as obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures, abnormal joints at birth (congenital abnormalities), gout, diabetes and other hormone disorders.

Crystal deposits in the cartilage can cause cartilage degeneration, and osteoarthritis. Disturbance in hormonal balance, due to diabetes and growth hormone disorders, are also associated with early cartilage wear and secondary osteoarthritis.

What treatments are available for Osteoarthritis (OA)?

Osteoarthritis is still regarded as an incurable disease in medical textbooks. The treatments available include:

These include:

• Arthroscopy – to relieve pain or to fix the joint

• Osteotomy – to correct joint deformity
  

• Arthrodesis – to immobilize joint by fixing bones
  

• Joint replacement – for severe joint deterioration

Surgery for Osteoarthritis is usually considered a choice surgery unless patient is unfit for surgery. However it may need several months of rehabilitation after surgery and an artificial joint may only last for 10 to 20 years when it may wear out and need repeat surgery.

The warning signs of Osteoarthritis (OA)

Symptoms of OA usually surface slowly, involving the area around the joints and varying greatly from patients to patients. Some patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints apparent on X-rays.

Symptoms: