Hand Osteoarthritis - Clinical Picture and Current Management

Abstract

Hand Osteoarthritis - Clinical Picture and Current Management Abstract. Finger joint osteoarthritis (HOA) is a common joint disease that increases with age. The cause is polyethiological. The distal joints of the fingers are most frequently affected, followed by the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb, the proximal interphalangeal joints, and the metacarpophalangeal joints. The clinical symptoms of HOA are painful functional restrictions of the hand and fingers. In terms of therapy, lifestyle modifications and exercise are primarily recommended. Only when these measures are inadequate or not helpful drugs will be recommended be recommended. First-choice drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs applied topically or p.o. Pharmaceutically manufactured chondroitin preparations are also helpful. In severely painful or erosive forms of HOA, corticosteroids can be used intra-articularly. The status of laser therapy or fractionated radiation is (still) unclear. Classical disease-modifying drugs such as those used in inflammatory joint diseases have no therapeutic value. Surgical interventions should be considered if conservative treatments are not sufficiently helpful and hand function is significantly impaired.