Osteoarthritis and Joint Replacement

This chapter describes the pathology of osteoarthritis (OA) within a continuum of early joint changes to patients requiring joint replacement. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the musculoskeletal system inextricably linked with joint pain, swelling, stiffness, muscle weakness and subsequent loss of function and independence. Individuals with OA will normally be managed in a primary care setting first by contact with clinicians such as general practitioners, physiotherapists, podiatrists, occupational therapists or nurses. Pharmacological options in OA can be broadly divided into oral analgesics and topical treatments. Where conservative management has been unable to control a patient’s pain to within a bearable level or where the severity of the OA is having significant effects on a patient’s mobility, surgical intervention may be suggested by an orthopaedic surgeon. An inextricable feature and chief complaint of OA is pain most noticeable during movement, including daily function and exercise.