Osteoarthritis of the hands
One of the most common joint diseases is hand osteoarthritis. Most patients after 45 years of age suffer from this chronic degenerative-dystrophic disease. In young people, these joint problems are less common. Among women, cases of osteoarthritis of the hands are more common than among men. The risk group includes patients whose parents or relatives suffered from this ailment, since there is a genetic predisposition to it.
Osteoarthritis of the hands is slow. At the initial stages of development, the disease practically does not manifest itself in any way, and the patient does not experience severe pain. Gradually, nodular thickenings of bone tissue appear in the area of the hand joints. They are of two types. Bouchard's nodules affect the proximal interphalangeal joints. Seals in this case are found on the back of the hand. Palpation of nodules usually does not cause discomfort. But sometimes the patient may be disturbed by mild pains. Bouchard's nodules, if left untreated, can limit joint movement. Such seals are a symptom of not only osteoarthritis of the hands, but also some other diseases.
Heberden's nodules are more common. They usually form at the interphalangeal distal joint. Most often, the seals are concentrated on the middle and index fingers. Less commonly, they can be found on the little finger and ring finger. With osteoarthritis of the hands, Heberden's nodules form on both hands. In most cases, they are not the source of pain. Although there may be discomfort. Unpleasant sensations are often noted by older women going through menopause.
Content:
- Causes of osteoarthritis of the hands
- Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hands
- Diagnosis and treatment of hand osteoarthritis
Causes of osteoarthritis of the hands
- The reason for the development of osteoarthritis of the hands is old age. Over time, the cartilage tissue in the joints becomes thinner, becomes less elastic, which is why it turns out to be unstable with respect to stress. Therefore, for older people, the risk of developing osteoarthritis increases.
- Hormonal changes contribute to problems with the joints of the hands. For this reason, osteoarthritis develops in women during menopause, which is accompanied by a lack of calcium in the body. It is important to eat well and take vitamins to make up for the lack of this element, which is necessary for the joints.
- Osteoarthritis of the hands can be caused by a professional activity associated with repetitive finger movements. In the process of working at the loom, when typing on a computer at secretaries, the joints receive microtrauma. They negatively affect the cartilage tissue and lead to osteoarthritis.
- Metabolic processes in the body, including the production of collagen, are of great importance. In patients with osteoarthritis, as a rule, they are impaired, there are other concomitant diseases.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hands
Externally, osteoarthritis of the hands manifests itself in the form of nodular thickenings in the joints. You can see them on the back of your hand and fingers. At the initial stages of development, the disease is not accompanied by discomfort.
Only a few years after its appearance, patients begin to worry about pain. In this case, the fingers are affected symmetrically. Osteoarthritis affects the interphalangeal joints and the “base” joints on the thumb. Outwardly, their deformation becomes noticeable. The joints deviate from the axis, subluxations are formed.
Periodically, patients notice the formation of a tumor on the fingers, redness of the skin. The pain is accompanied by stiffness in the joints, there is discomfort when performing flexion and extension movements.
Diagnosis and treatment of hand osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the hands has pronounced symptoms, which are not similar to the clinical picture of other diseases. Nodules appear in the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, while the rest of the hand joints are not affected.
A complete picture of the disease can be obtained by radiography. It is the main diagnostic method for osteoarthritis of the hands. The main indicators considered during the biochemical blood test are normal. The inflammatory process is not accompanied by an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as is the case with other diseases.
Despite the fact that osteoarthritis of the hands can cause serious deformities, it does not disrupt the patient's vital functions. However, to protect the joints, repetitive work should be avoided and the stress on them should be limited. If osteoarthritis is painful, local therapy methods are used. It involves the use of medical paraffin or ozokerite applications.
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Treatment usually comes down to several areas:
- Phonophoresis. Osteoarthritis of the hands sometimes manifests itself in the form of synovitis, when the synovial membrane of the joint becomes inflamed. In this case, the phonophoresis of hydrocortisone comes to the rescue, which is applied directly to the affected area.
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Corticosteroids. Intra-articular corticosteroid injections may also be given. These drugs allow you to achieve a quick positive result, but their effect is temporary. After injection, it is necessary not to load the joints of the fingers for some time, otherwise corticosteroids can have a negative effect.
- Medical treatment. The basis of drug treatment for osteoarthritis of the hands is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They stop inflammation, relieve pain and reduce swelling. taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be carried out under medical supervision and in strict adherence to the dosage. Exceeding it leads to digestive disorders and kidney problems.
- Physiotherapy and massage. For the treatment of osteoarthroasis of the hands, physiotherapy and massage are also used, which patients can carry out on their own to improve blood circulation. Chondoprotectors help to influence the structure of the cartilage and strengthen it. Surgical methods of treatment for osteoarthritis of the hands are practically not used.
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist
Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.
