Osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis. Spondylosis, degenerative disorders of intervertebral discs

1. Big picture

Osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease. It is a degenerative whole-joint disorder involving cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, ligaments, capsule, periarticular muscles, and osteophyte formation.

For the exam, the key contrast is:

Osteoarthritis = mechanical pain, short stiffness, normal inflammatory markers, asymmetric weight-bearing/DIP involvement. Inflammatory arthritis = inflammatory pain, long morning stiffness, raised ESR/CRP, synovitis, systemic features.

The spine equivalent is spondylosis, meaning degenerative changes of the vertebrae, facet joints, intervertebral discs, and ligaments. Degenerative disc disease can cause local back/neck pain, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, or rarely cauda equina syndrome.

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