Osteoarthritis (OA) is wear and tear (erosion) of the joint that breaks down and
eventually results in cartilage loss of one or more joints. Cartilage is a ‘cushion’
between the joint bones formed by protein substance.
Osteoarthritis is the most common among all arthritis types. It is more prevalent
among aged people and women. Most probable sites of occurrence are hands, feet,
knee, hip and spine.
- Joints at the finger tips (Heberden's arthritis)
- Midole joints of the fingers (Bouchard's arthritis)
- Joint at the base of the thumb (rhizarthritis)
- Knee joints (gonarthritis)
- Hip joints (coxarthritis)
Arthritis of the small joints of the spine (vertebral facet joints): often in combination
with other degenerative diseases of the spine such as disc problems, disc degeneration
(spondylosis), a forward shift of one vertebra over another (spondylolisthesis),
stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal etc.
