Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the cartilage.
There is no clear etiology identified for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is not
related to tumor, inflammation, infection, gout, or trauma. Osteoarthritis is
different from rheumatoid arthritis which is an inflammatory condition. The
distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) is the joint that is most often involved
with osteoarthritis. The trapeziometacarpal joint (TM) is the second most
involved joint with osteoarthritis. When the trapeziometacarpal joint is
involved, it causes pain with weak pinch and grip. DIP (Heberden’s Nodes) are
bony swellings (osteophytes) that can develop in the distal interphalangeal
joints (DIP) due to the affects of osteoarthritis on these joints. Heberden’s
nodes are a sign of osteoarthritis caused by osteophytes formation (bony
outgrowth) of the articular cartilage in response to repeated microtrauma at
the joint. Heberden’s nodes are more common in women than in men. PIP
(Bouchard’s Nodes) are also associated with osteoarthritis, and they are
similar bony growths which develop in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP)
joints. Bouchard’s nodes, like Heberden’s nodes, may or may not be painful.
Swollen, hard and painful finger joints (Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes) are
the classical signs of DIP and PIP joint osteoarthritis. Mucous cysts are
small, fluid-filled sacs that form between the DIP joint of the finger and the
bottom of the fingernail are another sign of osteoarthritis. The best treatment
for the mucous cyst is surgical excision of the cyst and removal of the
underlying osteophyte to decrease the risk of recurrence.
