Osteoarthritis is a family of degenerative joint diseases characterized by chronic pain, deformity, and progressive physical and psychological disability. Osteoarthritis without an identified cause is called primary osteoarthritis. Secondary osteoarthritis results from known precipitants such as bone ischemia, trauma, and neuropathy, among others. The common terminal state for all forms of osteoarthritis is the destruction of the joint. The diagnosis is made when a patient reports joint pain; radiographs demonstrate cartilage loss, hardening of the bone below the cartilage, and bone spur formation; and no other disease is responsible. It is essential to remember that not all patients with radiographic...
