- Also called “Degenerative Joint Disease” (DJD)
- Typically: No morning stiffness (<30 min. at most)
- Inflammatory OA can mimic RA (acute; morning stiffness)
- Knees
- Hips
- Fingers: PIPs & DIPs, rarely MCPs
- Hand (where 1st Metacarpal meets wrist)
- Spine
- Suspect if atypical joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle)
- Suspect if onset at youngish age
- No findings suggestive of Pseudogout (“CPPD”)
- No hand erosions as in RA
- ESR / CRP usually normal in OA
- DIPs & PIPs prominently involved (in RA: MCPs & PIPs, not DIPs)
- No ulnar deviation as in RA
- XR: no erosions in OA [do occur rarely in DIPs]
- XR: Heberden’s Nodes (DIPs) diagnostic
Heberden’s Nodes