Osteoarthritis eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Siddiqui & Laborde 2007
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and a major cause of morbidity and disability. It is commonly seen in the elderly population; however, its appearance at an early age is possible. Thus, the disease can no longer be considered a simple consequence of aging and cartilage degeneration. Unfortunately, in young patients, arthritis is often confused with traumatic arthritis, which occurs after an injury to a joint, whether by a macroincident or by repeated microincidents.
Synonyms and related keywords: OA, degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis, osteoarthrosis, arthritis