Clinical and radiologic features of primary osteoarthritis of the hand

An appreciation of the salient clinical and radiologic presentations of osteoarthritis, as well as associated tenosynovial problems (stenosing tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome), is necessary for effective diagnosis. The treatment of osteoarthritis is predicated upon an understanding of the anatomy and pathomechanics of the disease process. Relevant features of the anatomy of the joints of the hand have been reviewed. The correlation of pathologic abnormalities with their radiologic findings has been presented. The degenerative joint disease termed osteoarthritis affects primarily cartilagenous and osseous tissues, while synovial changes are less pronounced. The characteristics of osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal, carpometacarpal joint of the thumb, and metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand have been reviewed.