joint involvement in osteoarthritis

Last reviewed 01/2023

Joint involvement usually follows one of three main patterns:

  • one or two of the large weightbearing joints such as the hip or knee (classical primary osteoarthritis)

  • interphalangeal joints, especially in female patients (generalised nodal primary osteoarthritis)

  • a joint that has suffered an insult, e.g. osteonecrosis, congenital dysplasia or dislocation (secondary osteoarthritis)