Idiopathic osteoarthritis and contracture: causal implications

Objective: To use the known association of idiopathic osteoarthritis with contracture as a means of searching for its cause. There are currently two theories concerning this association, one assuming that the contracture is a consequence of the osteoarthritis and the other that it precedes and cause...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 2005-02, Vol.64 (2), p.226-228
Main Authors: Jones, P, Alexander, C J, Stewart, J, Lynskey, N
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age groups
Aging - physiology
Arthritis
Biological and medical sciences
contracture
Contracture - complications
DIP
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
distal interphalangeal joint
Extended Report
Female
Finger Joint - physiology
Finger Joint - physiopathology
Hands
Humans
Investigations
MCP
Medical sciences
metacarpo-phalangeal joint
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis - complications
Osteoarthritis - epidemiology
PIP
Prevalence
proximal interphalangeal joint
Range of Motion, Articular
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Summary:Objective: To use the known association of idiopathic osteoarthritis with contracture as a means of searching for its cause. There are currently two theories concerning this association, one assuming that the contracture is a consequence of the osteoarthritis and the other that it precedes and causes the osteoarthritis. This study tested both theories. Methods: Flexion ranges in the 12 finger joints were obtained by goniometric measurement in two samples of normal female subjects, one group with a mean age of 22 years (25 subjects) and one with a mean age of 45 years (50 subjects). The results were compared with the known regional prevalence of osteoarthritis in the finger joints of women. Results: The older group showed evidence of reduced flexion range consistent with development of contracture in the extensor mechanism of the fingers. The distribution of the contracture showed a strong negative correlation with the regional prevalence of osteoarthritis. Conclusions: An early dorsal contracture develops in the fingers of normal subjects, but it is neither a consequence of nor the cause of digital osteoarthritis. The most parsimonious explanation for the association is that both contracture and idiopathic osteoarthritis are independent consequences of failure to use the full movement range. If this hypothesis is correct, the disease could be preventable.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.2003.016444