Ball and socket joints are multiaxial, synovial joints. They are lubricated by a clear, sticky fluid called synovia. Description Also called spheroidal joints, the ball and socket joints are formed by the rounded or "ball-shaped" head of one bone fitting into the cup-like cavity of another bone. The articulating bone fits into...

In the appendicular skeleton, one is mostly concerned with the diarthrodial synovial joints. While this type of joint is also found in the axial skeleton (the facet (a.k.a. aphophyseal) joints and portions of the sacroiliac joints), there are also many amphiarthrodial joints which are not synovial (the intervertebral disc joints)....

Despite the inherent stability of the joints of the thumb, the vulnerable anatomic position of the first phalangis often subjects the joints to mechanical strain that leads to subluxation or dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints.
Despite the inherent stability of the joints of the thumb, the vulnerable...

Dislocation of a joint occurs when traumatic forces cause complete loss of continuity between the joint’s 2 articulating surfaces. Subluxation, on the other hand, occurs when the loss of continuity between the joints is only partial. A dislocation may or may not involve a fracture. Dislocations of the finger joints...

This 5 page article describes what joints do, how they work, how joints can become unstable, and how joints are lubricated.

Synonyms and related keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, Marie-Strümpell arthritis, Bechterew disease, spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthropathy, chronic inflammatory conditions, AS, inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the tendons, inflammation of the ligaments, iritis, uveitis, aortitis, pulmonary fibrosis, amyloidosis, inflammatory bowel disease
Author: Alan Schaffert, MD, Past Chief of Staff, Doctor's Medical Center of Modesto;...

In the appendicular skeleton, one is mostly concerned with the diarthrodial synovial joints. While this type of joint is also found in the axial skeleton (the facet (a.k.a. aphophyseal) joints and portions of the sacroiliac joints), there are also many amphiarthrodial joints which are not synovial (the intervertebral disc joints)....

There are three main forms of toe abnormalities in the human foot:
* Claw toes
* Hammer toes
* Mallet toes
A claw toe involves abnormal positions of all three joints in the toe. It consists of an extension contracture with dorsal...

Synovial cysts in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), most common in the popliteal fossa,1 2 have also been described in proximity to several other rheumatoid joints,3–9 but never the sternoclavicular joints.
Large synovial cysts originating from the sternoclavicular joints in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Andonopoulos AP, Meimaris N, Yiannopoulos G, Pastromas V, Dimopoulos P. Ann Rheum Dis....

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a benign proliferative disorder of uncertain etiology that affects synovial lined joints, bursae, and tendon sheaths. The disorder results in various degrees of villous and/or nodular changes in the affected structures. Two primary forms are described, including a diffuse form that affects the entire synovial...

Joints serve as links between structures; in this case, bones in the human body. There are numerous joints in the body that act to stabilize and control bony segments. One example is the knee joint, which joins the femur and tibia. This joint allows the lower leg to swing freely,...

A gliding joint is a synovial joint in which the bony surfaces that the joint holds together are flat, or only slightly rounded. (A synovial joint is the living material that holds two or more bones together but also permits these bones to move relative to each other.) A more...

Definition Hammer, claw, and mallet toe surgery refers to a series of surgical procedures performed to correct deformed toes. Purpose There are three main forms of toe abnormalities in the human foot: hammer toes, claw toes, and mallet toes. A hammer toe, also called contracted toe, bone spur, rotated toe, or deformed toe,... Expert

may present w/ signs of localized inflammation or pain, elevated skin temp, ect. - tends to occur after thr, spinal injury, head injury (11%), burns, bruises; - Events leading to HO; - mesenchymal...

Despite the inherent stability of the joints of the thumb, the vulnerable anatomic position of the first phalangis often subjects the joints to mechanical strain that leads to subluxation or dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints.
Moira Davenport, MD Updated: Jun 26, 2009

Ankle arthritis differs from that of the hip and knee in that it is most commonly caused by traumatic injury (rather than degeneration or inflammation) and predominantly affects younger males.
• Ankle fusion is a well-established treatment that can improve pain but does so at a loss of motion of the ankle. It doesn’t...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition in which the articular cartilage on the surfaces of the bones that form joints progressively deteriorates. The terms osteoarthrosis and OA are often used interchangeably. Although inflammation is generally absent in this degenerative condition, most physicians commonly refer to it as OA. Hence, this...

A triple arthrodesis consists of the surgical fusion of the talocalcaneal (TC), talonavicular (TN), and calcaneocuboid (CC) joints in the foot. The primary goals of a triple arthrodesis are to relieve pain from arthritic, deformed, or unstable joints. Other important goals are the correction of deformity and creation of a...

the metatarsophalangeal joints are the most commonly affected portion of the rheumatoid foot - typical forefoot deformities are hallux valgus, hyperextension of MP joints, and flexion deformities of the IP joints of the lesser toes

The joint inflammation which characterizes gout and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal arthropathy requires the presence of either monosodium urate (MSU) or CPPD crystals in the joint cavity. Crystals were associated with arthritis after their identification in the synovial fluid (SF) of inflamed joints; subsequently, it was noted that crystal...

Flowers & Wippermann
Synonyms and related keywords: costochondritis, costal chondritis, costochondral joints, costosternal joints, costal cartilage, chest pain, fibrositis, Tietze syndrome
Background In contrast to myocardial ischemia or infarction, costochondritis is a benign cause of chest pain and is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis. Although the term costochondritis often is used...

We evaluated the presence, amount, and distribution of joint fluid as seen on MR images of normal and abnormal ankles.
CONCLUSION. Our results show that fluid in the articulations and tendon sheaths of the ankle is common in asymptomatic patients, and the amounts of fluid are not significantly different from the...

Tips on how to reduce stress on the joints in daily life through diet, exercise, and body positions.

We report two cases in which arthrodesed knees were revised to total arthroplasties after the use of soft-tissue expanders. Case 1 had had multiple operations on her knee and had been arthrodesed for septic arthritis two years earlier. Case 2 had had knee arthrodesis for severe osteoarthritis 18 years before...

Osteoarthritis is a common, chronic condition which requires an individualised management plan involving multiple kinds of treatment.
Exercise programs and the Arthritis
Self-Management Program reduce pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis.
Paracetamol is the most appropriate first-line analgesic.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used as second-line analgesia on an as-needed basis (including continuous...