- osteoarthritis
- Arthritis characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, either primary or secondary to trauma or other conditions, which becomes soft, frayed, and thinned with eburnation of subchondral bone and outgrowths of marginal osteophytes; pain and loss of function result; mainly affects weight-bearing joints, is more common in older persons. SYN: arthrosis (2), degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, osteoarthrosis.
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os·teo·ar·thri·tis .äs-tē-ō-är-'thrīt-əs n, pl -thrit·i·des -'thrit-ə-.dēz arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by degenerative and sometimes hypertrophic changes in the bone and cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of apposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position and is marked symptomatically esp. by pain, swelling, and stiffness abbr. OA called also degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis compare RHEUMATOID ARTHRITISos·teo·ar·thrit·ic -'thrit-ik adj* * *
n.a degenerative disease of joints resulting from wear of the articular cartilage, which may lead to secondary changes in the underlying bone. It can be primary or it can occur secondarily to abnormal load to the joint or damage to the cartilage from inflammation or trauma. The joints are painful and stiff with restricted movement. Osteoarthritis is recognized on X-ray by narrowing of the joint space (due to loss of cartilage) and the presence of osteophyte, osteosclerosis, and cysts in the bone. The condition is treated with analgesics, by reducing the load to the joint by weight loss or the use of a walking stick, or surgically by osteotomy, arthrodesis, or arthroplasty.* * *
os·teo·ar·thri·tis (os″te-o-ahr-thriґtis) [osteo- + arthr- + -itis] a noninflammatory degenerative joint disease seen mainly in older persons, characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the margins, and changes in the synovial membrane. It is accompanied by pain, usually after prolonged activity, and stiffness, particularly in the morning or with inactivity. Called also degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic arthritis, and degenerative joint disease. osteoarthritic adj
Medical dictionary. 2011.
