Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System 2024

Revolutionizing Mobility: Navigating Osteoarthritis through Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty - Team 3

Media Type: Video

Summary

team_03_image.jpgThe assignment focused on a video-formatted explanation of the joint disease Osteoarthritis along with its clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatments. This topic was chosen due to its clinical relevance today as it is a commonly occurring condition as the elderly population increases in North America with various research being conducted for its treatment. The format was chosen due to its inclusivity for different learning styles as well as due to its innovative design to further improve engagement. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint condition characterized by non-inflammatory degeneration, primarily affecting weight-bearing joints, commonly associated with aging. While wear and tear are significant contributors, acute injuries can also lead to OA in athletes due to continuous exertion. Clinical presentation includes chronic discomfort, stiffness, and altered mobility with symptoms worsening with joint use. Pathogenesis involves influences like mechanical stress, age-related changes, and inflammatory responses, leading to cartilage breakdown and bone remodeling. The stages involve cartilage-forming cell (chondrocytes) dysfunction with mechanical stress that triggers the release of pro-inflammatory factors which cause degradation of cartilage. Aging reduces chondrocyte resistance to Reactive Oxygen Species, leading to apoptosis and altered gene expression favoring breakdown, which impairs joint homeostasis, resulting in irreversible cartilage damage leading to exposure of subchondral bone and is followed by bone remodeling characterized by thickening. Radiographic imaging shows progressive bone formation on the periphery of the joint (osteophytes), decreased joint space with fluid present in the bone resulting in cyst formation which is further noticeable in microscopic slides of the cartilage that also emphasizes chondrocyte clusters with cracks in the cartilage. Diagnosis relies on symptom observation and testing like X-rays and synovial fluid analysis. Treatment aims at managing pain and reducing progression, starting with non-pharmacological interventions like exercise and weight loss. Pharmacological options include acetaminophen and NSAIDs, with surgical interventions like arthroplasty considered for severe cases. Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) and Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) are effective surgical options for severe OA, replacing damaged joints with prosthetic components to restore function and alleviate pain. These procedures require careful patient selection, preoperative imaging, and post-operative rehabilitation to ensure optimal outcomes.

Keywords: Articular Cartilage, Total Joint Arthroplasty, Synovium, Subchondral Sclerosis, Herbenden/Bouchard's nodes, Subchondral Cysts