Osteoarthritis diagnosis

Moscowitz, R.W., Altman R.D., Hochberg, M.C., et al. (2007) Osteoarthritis Diagnosis and Medical/Surgical Management. Lippincott WUhams WiUdns, Philadelphia. 

Moskowitz RW (1984) Expoimental models of osteoarthritis. In Osteoarthritis, Diagnosis and Management. RW Moskowitz, DS Howell, VM Goldberg, HJ Mankin, eds. W.B.Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 213-232pp. 

Kettlekamp DB, Coyler RA (1984) Osteoarthritis of the knee. In Osteoarthritis Diagnosis and management. RW Moskowitz, DS Howell, eds. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 403-421pp. 

A major type of headache that must be considered in differential diagnosis is that caused by underlying disease intracranial disturbances (e.g., vascular anomalies, infections, tumors, trauma) diseases involving the head and neck but not the brain (e.g., cervical osteoarthritis disorders of eye, ear, nose, sinuses, and throat cranial neuralgias) and systemic diseases (e.g., sudden and severe hypertension, hyperthyroidism). These headaches usually can be relieved by specific therapy for the underlying disorder (e.g., surgical correction of tumors, antibiotics for infections, antiarthritic drugs for osteoarthritis). 

A 56-year-old Nigerian woman, with a previous history of sickle cell trait, osteoarthritis, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, took amlodipine 5 mg/day for hypertension for 2 weeks and developed a lichenoid eruption (15). Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lichen planus. Amlodipine was withdrawn and there was rapid symptomatic and clinical improvement after treatment with glucocorticoids and antihistamines. 

Finally, Lee and coworkers reported a higher risk of cardiovascular events with the NSAID use, however most likely to a better pain management, the use of NSAID was associated with lower mortality.[167] In this nested case-control study in a cohort of US veterans (n=500, 000) with a diagnosis of osteoar-thrihs, the adjusted odds ratios for cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events for any NSAID were 1.14 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.08-1.21), however, treatment with NSAIDs was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality in both the low (0.72, 95% Cl, 0.68-0.77) and high risk (0.79, 95% Cl, 0.73-0.86) groups. This study highlights the importance of NSAIDs use in patients with osteoarthritis. 

Symptoms (diagnosis). Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of painful knees, backs, and fingers. But it seldom causes deformity of the joints or crippling. Affected joints may creak and grate on movement. Typically, pain is increased by exercise and relieved by rest. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthirtis does not produce any nodes under the skin and is not accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever and weight loss. 

The scaphoid is the most common site of occult fractures in the wrist area, with up to 20-25% of cases unnoticed at the initial evaluation (Waizenegger et al. 1994). When the diagnosis is delayed, scaphoid fi actures have high rates of complications such as pseudoarthrosis, avascular necrosis of the proximal pole of the bone and secondary radiocarpal osteoarthritis with chronic pain and impaired function. A variety of diagnostic modalities, such as additional radiographic views, bone scan, CT and MR imaging, have been advocated for early detection of scaphoid fractures. The choice between an addi-... 

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