osteoarthritis (interphalangeal joints)

Last reviewed 01/2018

Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hand present as nodular swellings sited over the dorsal surface of the bases of the distal phalanges - Heberden's nodes - or more proximally - Bouchard's nodes.

The nodules are not related to osteo-arthritis elsewhere and in most cases they are symptom-free. Occasionally, they may be associated with progressive joint damage.