Introduction
The bone is surrounded and supported by the cushion material called cartilage. The cartilage is a rigid, flexible tissue that connects and protects the bone and joint. Osteoarthritis, a common arthritis form, results when these cartilages wear down with time and other factors such as age, obesity, hormones, genetics, trauma, and nutrition. It is also referred to as degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis that is affecting nearly millions of people in the world. Joint pain and stiffness are the principal signs of osteoarthritis, which would eventually limit daily activities.
What Is Bone-On-Bone Arthritis?
Bone-one-bone is not a solitary clinical phrase. In contrast, it is an advanced or severe phase of osteoarthritis. Here, the degeneration is too severe for the development of bone-to-bone contact. So, it is referred to as the progressive narrowing of the joint space between the bones as in affiliation with osteoarthritis. Any joint involved in osteoarthritis can potentially develop bone-on-bone arthritis. The most common joint involved in bone-on-bone degeneration includes hips, knees, and shoulders.
Stages of Osteoarthritis:
Osteoarthritis can be early, mild, moderate, and severe. Osteoarthritis is primarily classified into three following types.
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Early Stage: Sharp yet mild degrees of pain are encountered with joint movement in this stage. In addition, the cartilage begins to wear. Nevertheless, the affected joint still possesses a good quantity of cartilage.
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Mid-Stage: In this stage, the cartilage is worn with some apparent bald patches. So, the cartilage in between the affected bones presents signs of wear. The person encounters pain and joint stiffness. The pain is persistent, influencing joint activities and daily functions.
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Advanced Stage: A significant amount of cartilage is lost in the advanced severe stage of osteoarthritis. As a result, the space becomes narrower between the joint due to cartilage loss. Synovial fluid, a fluid running between the bones, becomes less and thus shows less lubrication for the joint. The bone tissues are thickened and rigid in this stage. Bone spurs are developed and progressed, whereas bone spurs are known for excess bone bumps. As a result, bone-to-bone contact is advanced in the form of bone-on-bone arthritis. Constant dull aches in association with on-and-off intense pain are experienced.
What Are the Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis?
Bone-on-bone arthritis results from chronic osteoarthritis states. There is no solitary cause for osteoarthritis. But, the following determinants are known to increase the risks of osteoarthritis.
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Aging: Osteoarthritis can occur with no regard for age. But, it is more prevalent among middle-aged and older adults. In addition, women are more likely to than men above 50 years of age.
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Overweight or Obese: Being overweight induces more stress on the joints.
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Joint Overuse: Recurrent or persistent joint involving activities like running, throwing, and jumping.
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Trauma: A history of trauma, assault, or injury would cause osteoarthritis in both younger and older adults.
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Surgery: Previous history of surgery on the joint.
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Family History of Osteoarthritis: Certain genetic characteristics can be inherited from the parents to the children that could induce the possibility of the development of osteoarthritis.
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Malalignment: The malaligned joint structure can cause osteoarthritis in later life.
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Low Hormone levels: The research study states that low hormone levels can be a significant risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. Estrogen deficiency can result in mild forms of osteoarthritis.
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Nutritional Factors: Nutritional deficiency, including vitamin D deficiency, have an association with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bone-On-Bone Arthritis?
Joint pain is the predominant feature of osteoarthritis. In addition, a person with severe degrees of osteoarthritis will encounter the following signs since it is referred to as bone-on-bone arthritis.
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Intense joint pain.
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Swelling.
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Stiffness or rigidity of the affected joint.
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Limitation of movements.
In addition, the person experiences dull and constant pain with spasmodic episodes of intense pain in the advanced phase of osteoarthritis. The muscles associated with the affected joint seem debilitating and weak.
How Is Bone-On-Bone Arthritis Diagnosed?
One should reach out to the doctor if the joint pain and swelling are persistent, lasting for quite a few days. Early identification ensues the early intervention, with no progression of advanced stages. Medical healthcare professionals first aid in a thorough physical examination, medical history, and the evaluation of symptoms. The diagnosis is then followed by blood investigations and X-ray tests. X-rays reveal the following findings of bone-on-bone arthritis.
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Narrowing of the joint space between the bones, since this narrowing results from cartilage destruction.
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Boney spur formation.
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Whiteness is apparent on the joint as a result of the system’s stabilization for the joint damages.
What Are the Treatment Options for Bone-On-Bone Arthritis?
The intervention of bone-on-bone arthritis is aimed toward bone-on-bone degeneration and underlying osteoarthritis. After the appropriate diagnosis, the doctors prescribe treatment options that can be medical or surgical, or a combination of both. So, the doctors address the following concerns.
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Improvement of joint mobility and, thus, functionality.
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Muscle spasms and muscle tension.
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Optimal motion.
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Muscle strength.
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Pain and discomfort concerning the joint over time.
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Joint stiffness.
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Improvement in range of motion.
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Enhancement of the function in the specified joint area.
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Therefore, the quality of life overall.
Medical Intervention
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Steroid injections: Glucocorticoid injection is directed into the joint.
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Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen.
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Walking aids and supportive equipment, such as braces and splints.
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Physical therapy helps in recovery and rehabilitation.
Surgery
Surgery is generally prescribed in the advanced stage when other traditional interventions do not effectively alleviate joint concerns. So, surgery for the joint is considered only when intense joint pain and damage are not recovered with less-invasive procedures. The surgery is performed by replacing the deteriorated joint with a prosthesis, such as metal, ceramic, or plastic. The worn cartilage is removed as well. The surgery is known as joint replacement or joint arthroplasty. It helps alleviate the pain and restores function.
Conclusion
The bone-on-bone arthritis is a state that results when an initial stage of the condition osteoarthritis is left unnoticed and untreated. So, it is significant to receive appropriate treatment to circumvent further complications such as narrowing of the joint space and development of bone spurs. Bone-on-bone arthritis is one of the most effectively treatable conditions as long as it is detected early and managed with NSAIDs and surgical intervention of the joint concerns.
