Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the non-inflammatory degeneration of articular cartilage and the formation of osteophyte at the edge of the joint caused by old age or other reasons, such as trauma, congenital abnormality of the joint and joint deformity. Clinically, it can produce symptoms such as joint pain, limited activity and joint deformity. There are many common synonyms, such as osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, senile arthritis, hypertrophic arthritis and so on. The degenerative change of cartilage may have started since the late age of 20. Most people over the age of 50 can show the manifestations of osteoarthritis on X-ray films. Lesions are often more prominent in women than in men, involving finger joints, knees, hips and spine, which are the most common causes affecting the activities of the elderly.