{"id":521,"date":"2012-12-18T22:26:27","date_gmt":"2012-12-18T22:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/?page_id=521"},"modified":"2020-02-05T20:34:37","modified_gmt":"2020-02-06T00:34:37","slug":"osteoarthritis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/osteoarthritis\/","title":{"rendered":"Osteoarthritis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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1.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/a>
\n2.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/a>
\n3.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>1.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/span><\/h1>\n

What is Osteoarthritis of the Fingers?<\/h1>\n

Osteoarthritis involves wearing away of the smooth cartilage that normally covers the ends of the bones in a joint. \u00a0This leaves a roughened joint surface that causes pain and swelling due to the abrasive surfaces and the body’s own inflammatory reaction. \u00a0Excess bone (osteophytes) appear as well, as part of the degenerative process. \u00a0The persistent joint degeneration and inflammation ultimately leads to stiffness of the joint.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/h2>\n

Pain and swelling are common symptoms. \u00a0More advanced joint degeneration can lead to a visible deformity from osteophytes. \u00a0Severely arthritic joints become stiff and difficult and painful to move. \u00a0Symptoms usually present in middle age or older.<\/p>\n

Common Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/h2>\n
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Osteoarthritis distal interphalangeal joints<\/p><\/div>\n

The underlying reason for Osteoarthritis of the Fingers is little-understood, likely due to a genetic predisposition that leads to wearing out of the finger joints after years of use. \u00a0A traumatic injury to a finger joint can also cause subsequent arthritis.<\/p>\n

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/h2>\n

Speaking with you and carefully examining your hands is essential to make the diagnosis. \u00a0An x-ray is helpful to confirm the presence of Osteoarthritis of the Fingers and assess the severity of joint degeneration.<\/p>\n

Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Fingers<\/h2>\n

Cases of mild to moderate symptoms can be managed with temporary reduction in activity of the hand, anti-inflammatory medications, occupational therapy, and cortisone injection. \u00a0This regimen can allow continued use of the hand without having the underlying osteoarthritis limit you. \u00a0Severe cases of crippling, chronic pain and an extensively degenerated joint on x-ray may indicate the need for surgery.<\/p>\n

Depending on the extent of symptoms, the condition of the joint, and which joint is involved, surgery may involve arthroscopic or open joint debridement, joint replacement (arthroplasty<\/a>), or fusion (arthrodesis<\/a>). \u00a0For example, a severely arthritic first knuckle joint may be a candidate for debridement or joint replacement, to preserve motion at an important joint for function of the entire finger.<\/p>\n

A severely arthritic knuckle at the tip of the finger, though, would be a candidate for debridement or fusion in light of the small size of the joint and its important function in precision pinch and grasp.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Osteoarthritis of the Fingers can present along a broad spectrum of symptom intensity and functional limitations. \u00a0Call NYC hand surgeon<\/a> Dr. Pruzansky at 212-249-8700 to schedule an appointment and obtain improved use of your hand.<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0<\/span>Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/h1>\n

What is Osteoarthritis of the Wrist?<\/h1>\n

Osteoarthritis of the Wrist is the degeneration of the joint surfaces that connect the eight small bones that comprise the wrist<\/a>. \u00a0The very smooth cartilage surfaces of each bone can be damaged or worn out, causing rough surfaces to rub against each other. \u00a0The arthritis may be localized to just a few of the bones, or all of the wrist can be involved in advanced cases.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/h2>\n

Pain and swelling are common initially. \u00a0As the arthritis worsens there may be stiffness and difficulty using the hand and wrist.<\/p>\n

Common Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/h2>\n

Commonly, prior trauma of the wrist can cause damage to the cartilage surfaces at the\u00a0time of injury, setting the wrist on the path to developing arthritis. \u00a0Ligament injuries may cause bone malalignment and leads to premature wear of wrist joint surfaces.<\/p>\n

Untreated fractures can also cause arthritis. \u00a0In addition, a lifetime of heavy use of the wrist can cause overloading of some of the joint surfaces and lead to arthritis. \u00a0Some people likely have a genetic predisposition to wearing out the wrist and will develop osteoarthritis without any other known factor. \u00a0Different bones in the wrist are more commonly affected by osteoarthritis depending on the cause.<\/p>\n

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/h2>\n

Speaking with you to localize the main area of pain and performing a careful physical exam to distinguish between the several small bones in the wrist is essential to make the correct diagnosis. \u00a0X-rays of the wrist will aid in confirming the diagnosis and assessing the severity of joint degeneration and how many bones are involved. \u00a0Further imaging studies are usually unnecessary.<\/p>\n

Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Wrist<\/h2>\n

More mild cases may be managed with conservative treatment involving anti-inflammatory medication, occupational therapy, splinting, and cortisone injection. \u00a0Unlike the hip or knee, the wrist joint is not responsible for bearing the weight of the body, so it can generally tolerate the presence of arthritis better. \u00a0A conservative treatment regimen can help to reduce inflammation and pain while preserving motion so that you may continue to enjoy using your hand for work and hobbies.<\/p>\n

Cases with significant pain unresponsive to conservative treatment may benefit from surgery. \u00a0Surgical treatment can include arthroscopic debridement or partial wrist fusion (arthrodesis<\/a>) if only part of the wrist is involved. \u00a0Fusing part of the wrist can reduce or eliminate pain, while generally reducing wrist motion by about half. \u00a0In situations where ligamentous or bony injuries underlie the arthritic process, repairing them in a timely fashion may improve the arthritic condition. \u00a0When the entire wrist joint is severely degenerated, surgical treatment requires either complete wrist fusion or total wrist replacement.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Osteoarthritis of the Wrist may cause difficulty with using your hand. \u00a0Call NYC Wrist Surgeon<\/a> Dr. Pruzansky at 212-249-8700 to schedule an appointment and re-introduce comfort to your wrist.<\/p>\n

\"Wrist<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>3.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/h1>\n

What is Osteoarthritis of the Elbow?<\/h1>\n

Osteoarthritis of the Elbow is the gradual wearing away of the cartilage that covers the bones of the elbow joint. \u00a0The elbow joint<\/a> is composed of three bones. \u00a0The arm bone – the humerus – primarily moves with one of the forearm bones – the ulna. In addition, the humerus moves with the other forearm bone \u00a0– the radius. \u00a0Osteoarthritis may affect all three of these bones or only two of them.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/h2>\n

Pain and stiffness are common. \u00a0It is possible for the elbow to be stiff with minimal pain. \u00a0The stiffness can progress and result in contracture of the elbow. \u00a0Clicking of the elbow may be noticed as well. \u00a0Sometimes the little finger and ring finger in the hand may feel numb or tingly. \u00a0This occurs because the ulnar nerve, which runs right along the inside part of the elbow (“the funny bone”), can become irritated and\/or compressed by the arthritic elbow joint due to its osteophytes.<\/p>\n

Common Causes of Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/h2>\n

As with the wrist, Osteoarthritis of the Elbow most commonly occurs when a prior traumatic accident has damaged the cartilage surfaces due to fracture or dislocation. \u00a0Since cartilage does not heal normally once it has been damaged, the injured joint surfaces are no longer perfectly smooth and the path to osteoarthritis often begins. \u00a0Prolonged heavy use of the elbow, such as decades of construction work, can cause gradual overloading of the cartilage. \u00a0Chronic overuse can also occur in baseball pitchers due to the stress continually placed on the elbow joint during the pitching motion. \u00a0This stress can cause damage to the supporting elbow ligaments, which may leads to premature wear of the joint surfaces due to instability.<\/p>\n

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/h2>\n

Speaking with you and performing a careful physical exam to assess areas of tenderness, ligamentous instability, and limitations in motion are essential. \u00a0X-rays of the elbow will confirm the diagnosis and aid in evaluating the extent of the osteoarthritis. \u00a0Sometimes a CT scan is helpful if surgery is being considered and there are large osteophytes and significant joint deformity. \u00a0MRI may show ligamentous injury. \u00a0If there is numbness in the little finger and ring finger, a nerve study (NCS) can be obtained to evaluate the extent of ulnar nerve injury caused by the adjacent arthritic joint.<\/p>\n

Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Elbow<\/h2>\n

Anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, and minimizing stress on the elbow can help reduce pain and improve motion. \u00a0More advanced cases of osteoarthritis, especially when there is extensive osteophyte formation that creates a bony block to motion, may benefit from surgery. \u00a0Arthroscopic debridement can be performed to remove some osteophytes and damaged tissue, while also smoothing irregular joint surfaces.<\/p>\n

Arthritic elbows with large osteophytes and more significant joint contractures of the soft tissues may need an open surgical debridement, including an Osteocapsular Arthroplasty. \u00a0Cases involving ligamentous instability with only mild arthritis can benefit from ligament reconstruction (like Tommy John Surgery<\/a>) to arrest the arthritic process. \u00a0Total Elbow Replacement is reserved for severely damaged joints in older, low-demand patients.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Osteoarthritis of the Elbow can be a nuisance or quite disabling. \u00a0Call Dr. Pruzansky at 212-249-8700 to schedule an appointment and improve the condition of an important joint.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jump to: 1.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Fingers 2.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Wrist 3.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Elbow 1.\u00a0Osteoarthritis of the Fingers What is Osteoarthritis of the Fingers? Osteoarthritis involves wearing away of the smooth cartilage that normally covers the ends of the bones in a joint. \u00a0This leaves a roughened joint surface that causes pain and swelling due […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/521"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=521"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/521\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/handsurgeonsnyc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}