Hand osteoarthritis and prevention
Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the common joint diseases in the elderly, causing pain, greatly affecting motor function and life.
Normal hand and arthritic hand.
The ancients have a saying "rich in two eyes, poor in two hands". The hands are very skillful, flexible and are an extremely effective labor tool. However, in Vietnam, THKBT accounts for 14%, ranking fourth in common degenerative joint positions.
Osteoarthritis often comes with age.
The average age of patients with THKBT is 60 - 65 years old. However, from the age of 55, symptoms of THKBT begin to appear. The rate of THK increases with age, higher in the age group of 60 and older and highest in the age group of 70 - 79 years old. Old age is the highest risk factor for THK. It can be said that the older you are, the amount of blood to nourish the joint area is reduced, the aging of the cartilage is more obvious, making the cartilage less able to withstand factors that are harmful to the joint.
In addition, the elderly still have to work extra to earn a living, take care of household chores such as laundry, babysitting, other housework, they mainly do manual labor, creating conditions for THK to develop. Second, the disease is also common in women (75%).
The cause may be due to hormonal changes such as estrogen, leading to changes in articular cartilage cells. Third, obese people are also susceptible to THKBT. Up to 1/3 of THKBT patients are obese. Fourth, THKBT often appears after some hand diseases such as trauma, joint fractures, bone necrosis,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic gout, diabetes...
What are the signs of THKBT?
The right hand is more prone to degeneration, because most of us are right-handed, using our right hand more in life, work and daily activities. Of the 5 fingers, the thumb, index finger, and middle finger (fingers I, II, III) are most prone to degeneration, because these fingers have to work most actively, such as when holding, grasping, carrying, or lifting objects.
Among the joints of each finger, the thumb joint is most commonly affected by OA, which is related to the use of these joints most when grasping objects. In particular, the thumb joint is saddle-shaped, responsible for the function of grasping objects of the hand, so it is more vulnerable. Currently, people have proven the certain role of occupational factors in OA of the thumb in women.
Patients complain of pain in the joints of one or both hands, mechanical pain, that is, pain when moving and reduced when resting. The pain increases when dressing, when buttoning a shirt; pain when clenching the hand, pain when pouring water into a glass and is relieved when resting. The pain is usually mild to moderate. In the morning, when waking up, the joint is stiff, difficult to move, lasting from 15 to 30 minutes. Stiffness after resting is also common. This is a sign of joint deterioration. Gradually, the hand becomes more difficult to perform daily activities, makes a crackling sound when moving, and the hand muscles atrophy.
In the late stages, 1/3 of patients have deformed fingers. This is due to the presence of bone spurs growing at the distal interphalangeal joint (Heberden's nodes) or proximal interphalangeal joint (Bouchad's nodes), affecting aesthetics. About 50% of patients with THKBT have difficulty performing self-care, housework and other daily activities such as combing hair, washing, dressing, eating, drinking, caring for children and grandchildren, holding grandchildren. There are 4 basic signs of THKBT: bone spurs, narrowing of joint spaces, subchondral sclerosis, and bone cavities. Hand X-rays can be taken for definitive diagnosis.
What to do to prevent THKBT?
Avoid heavy work and carrying. Do not use your hands continuously for too long. Family members and the community should care and share the burden of the elderly. Increase the use of machines to support work and daily activities if possible. Early detection of hand OA is necessary because it will help with early treatment and minimize the consequences of the disease. When there are signs such as hand joint pain, joint deformities or morning stiffness, limited hand movement, you should go to an orthopedic specialist for timely advice and treatment.
According to Health & Life - NT
