Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches in Hand Osteoarthritis Frequently Seen in Women
Date Added: 17 May 2020, 13:12
Last Updated Date:17 November 2020, 11:33
Near East University Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Specialist Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that Osteoarthritis, which affects every area of the patient's life, is known as calcification among the people and is the most common joint disease at hands. She stated that it could be diagnosed by evaluating the results and imaging methods, the pain increases as you use the affected joint, decreases if it rests, and in the later stages, the pain is exacerbated. Assoc. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that the patients felt stiff after prolonged inactivity and had difficulty starting the movement. Stating that there are two different types of hand osteoarthritis, Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis and Erosive Osteoarthritis. Assist Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that osteoarthritis causes permanent changes in the joints with significant complaints in patients.

More common type in women is Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis...
Stating that Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis has a familial transition feature and is seen more frequently in women. Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that the nodules found in osteoarthritis involving the hand joints appeared at an early age. Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto continued as follows: “Nodal Generalized Osteoarthritis affects a large number of joints. Osteoarthritis is frequently seen in patients with the hand, then knee or hip. Patients feel the pain firstly at hands. Pain, swelling and stiffness appear in the fingers, in one or more joints. Although nodules are formed in osteoarthritis, hand functions are not affected.”

Erosive Osteoarthritis develops suddenly in women between 40 - 50 years of age...
Stating that erosive osteoarthritis is common in women between the ages of 40-50, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that women have symptoms at an earlier age compared to other forms of osteoarthritis. Stating that erosive osteoarthritis starts suddenly, Assist. Prof. Dr. Çeto pointed out that the pains are very severe, the joints swell, a reddish color appears and temperature increases at the joints.

Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu continued: “Erosive osteoarthritis affects many joints at the same time, usually appears symmetrically in both hands. For this reason, it is often confused with Rheumatoid Arthritis which is a rheumatic disease that affects the hands. The painful process can take years, but eventually, the patient's complaints regress. Although the joints are painless in the advanced stages of the disease, there is a loss of function and the final situation is bad.”

Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto: “Important risk factor in obesity is hand osteoarthritis”
Stating that the most important risk factor for hand osteoarthritis is age, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that in 75% of women between the ages of 60-70, osteoarthritis is detected in the DIF joints by using the imaging method, it is more common in women than men and affects more joints. Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said the following about the hereditary transition: “In particular, the hereditary transition feature of Heberden nodules is very evident. It has been determined that obesity causes osteoarthritis in some joints not only for mechanical reasons such as pressure, but also for metabolic reasons. Hand and finger joints are also examples. It is remarkable that obesity is a risk factor for hand osteoarthritis.”

Training to protect joints is important in patients with Hand Osteoarthritis...
Stating that the treatment is planned individually, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that non-pharmacological approaches are included in the treatment plan along with drug treatment, while the treatment is arranged. Stating that patients should be trained on how to protect joints, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that exercise related to the disease can be done, orthoses that prevent and treat deformity in the joints, and physical therapy agents can be used when necessary.