Radiology

Question 1

What is the clinical presentation of osteoarthritis?

Answer 1

• Decreased function; joint pain, instability, stiffness
• Pain typically worsened by activity and decreases at rest
  
  • In later disease stages, it may become continuous

Question 2

Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of OA?

Answer 2

• articular cartilage degeneration
• bone remodelling
• osteophyte formation
• ligamentous laxity
• periarticular muscle weakness
• synovitis

Question 3

1ary vs 2ary OA?

Answer 3

1ary:

• absence of an antecedent insul
• strong genetic component with the disease primarily affecting middle-aged women

2ary:

• abnormal mechanical forces (e.g. occupational stress, obesity)
• previous joint injury

Question 4

Most common peripheral joints affected by OA?

Answer 4

Hands, knee, hip

Question 5

Risk factors for OA?

Answer 5

• Obesity
• Age
• Female sex
• Family history

Question 6

3 key radiographic features of OA?

Answer 6

• Joint space narrowing (JSN)
• Sclerosis
• Osteophytosis

If all 3 of these findings are not present, another diagnosis should be considered.

Question 7

X-ray of joint space narrowing

Answer 7

• characteristically asymmetric
• least specific: present in many other pathological processes

Question 8

what is sclerosis?

Answer 8

• Hardening of the bone just below the cartilage surface
• Sclerotic changes occur at joint margins

Question 9

What is osteophytosis?

Answer 9

• Development of osteophytes
  
  • Bony lumps that grow on the bones around the joints
• Common degenerative disease finding

Question 10

What is synovitis?

Answer 10

• When the synovium of a joint becomes inflamed
• A non-specific finding, present also in other diseases, including inflammatory and infectious conditions
• Present in up to 50% of the patients with OA

Question 11

What investigation is most commonly used in assessment of OA?

Answer 11

Radiograph