Daily Medical Advices

What is it?

Osteoarthritis is a degeneration of the cartilage without infection or inflammation special. This degeneration leads to destruction more or less rapid cartilage coats the ends of bones. Anatomically, this destruction is accompanied by a proliferation of bone under the cartilage.

Joint disease is the most common. The first symptoms usually appear from 40-50 years, but the disease often starts much earlier in life.

Mechanisms ?

The articular cartilage tissue is not inert: it is the seat of intense activity where production chrondrocytes (cartilage cells) precludes, at least initially, the destruction of these cells. When the phenomena of destruction outweigh the regeneration of cartilage, the cartilage thickness decreases and the joint is altered permanently.

This intense activity of producing new cells occurs at the margin of the joint by producing new growths of bone: bone spurs.

During cartilage destruction, small pieces of cartilage may break off and “float” in the pocket joints: they then trigger outbreaks inflammatory mechanisms that result in hypersecretion of fluid and swelling of the joint.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by three anatomical lesions:

Read the rest of this entry »