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They are named after Dr. William Heberden, Sr. Finger OA occurs when the smooth, rubbery cartilage that cushions the ends of your finger bones phalanges begins to break down and wear away, causing pain, stiffness and inflammation.
As the disease progresses, eventually the cartilage wears away completely, causing bone to rub on bone. The hand and finger joints are the third most common joint to be affected by osteoarthritis, just after the knees and hips. They most commonly develop on the joints nearest to the fingertips and can cause the fingers to appear crooked. These growths can cause pain, stiffness, and discomfort.
We also discuss treatment and when to see a doctor. Each joint in the body has a layer of cartilage that helps protect the bones. OA causes this layer of cartilage to gradually degrade, allowing the bones in the joints to make direct contact with each other.
Over time, the bones can become damaged from scraping together. The body reacts to this damage by triggering the development of new bone formations, which are known as nodes. For some people, they can occur without any other symptoms or only mild symptoms. But in others, symptoms can be prominent and may include:.
This can be due to the severity of other symptoms of OA, or the person having become used to avoiding the use of their finger joints. Some risk factors for the condition include:. However, OA is a chronic condition that currently has no cure, so treating it will try to manage the symptoms and reduce pain.
Alongside medication, doctors typically recommend several lifestyle changes that can help to reduce symptoms. The most effective lifestyle change for treating symptoms of OA is physical exercise. Exercising can work in several ways to improve symptoms. For example, resistance exercises can help to increase muscle strength, which reduces the pressure on joints.
Osteoarthritis is considered a sign of 'wear and tear' in a joint. The earliest structural abnormalities in osteoarthritis are evident in the ligaments supporting the joints [4]. The cartilage of the joints breaks down, osteophytes bone spurs develop , and the ends of the bones rub against each other. Inflammation in the nodes is due to friction-induced capsular rupture and synovial leakage [1]. A Heberden node is a bony swelling of a distal interphalangeal joint and a Bouchard node is a bony swelling of the proximal interphalangeal joint.
As well as affecting fingers, osteoarthritis causes discomfort, pain, and stiffness in other joints of the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Digital myxoid pseudocyst Heberden node and myxoid pseudocyst. The diagnosis of Heberden or Bouchard node is usually made clinically due to their characteristic appearance. Imaging may be performed on the affected digit.
Histological examination of Heberden or Bouchard node is not commonly undertaken. It may show the presence of osteophytes and dorsal contractures.
Treatment for osteoarthritis may include lifestyle changes such as exercise, weight loss, low-inflammatory diet, heat bags, and cold compresses. Medical treatments include pain relief and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [9,10]. Some patients with osteoarthritis may require surgery to repair or replace one or more joints.
See smartphone apps to check your skin. DermNet NZ does not provide an online consultation service. If you have any concerns with your skin or its treatment, see a dermatologist for advice. Author: Adjunct Assoc. Heberden and Bouchard nodes — codes and concepts open.
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