Finger and thumb joint osteoarthritis (synonyms: Thumb arthrosis; thumb joint arthrosis; finger arthrosis; finger joint arthrosis; hand arthrosis; ICD-10-GM M19.-: Other Osteoarthritis) is a joint disease associated with degenerative changes in the articular cartilage, joint capsule, and subchondral bone of the finger and thumb joints.
Normally, the cartilage, together with the synovial fluid (synovial fluid), protects the joints and acts as a kind of “shock absorber”. Due to osteoarthritis, this function can no longer be guaranteed. The disease is divided into the following forms of osteoarthritis:
- Primary forms – e.g. due to overuse.
- Secondary forms – due to malformations, diseases, trauma (injuries), surgery, etc.
The wrist is most commonly affected by:
- Distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) osteoarthritis.
- Rhizarthrosis (M18.-: rhizarthrosis [osteoarthritis of the thumb saddle joint]) (4% of all osteoarthritis)
- Metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) osteoarthritis.
- Proximal interphalangeal joint(PIP)-arthrosis
Other forms of osteoarthritis of the fingers include:
- Bouchard’s arthrosis (Bouchard’s nodes at the PIP joint; osteoarthritis of the finger medial joints; ICD-10 M15.2: Bouchard’s nodes (with arthropathy)).
- Heberden’s arthrosis (Heberden’s nodes at the DIP joint; osteoarthritis of the finger end joints; ICD-10 M15.1: Heberden’s nodes (with arthropathy))
Sex ratio: women are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis than men.
Frequency peak: the disease occurs predominantly in older age; a significant increase occurs in the 6th decade of life.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adults.
The prevalence (disease frequency) is 30% in women and 25% in men (in the 45-65 age group); from the age of 60, a good half of women and one third of men are affected.
Course and prognosis: The onset of finger and thumb joint arthrosis is usually gradual. The disease is not curable, but adequate treatments can significantly relieve symptoms and prevent or slow progression (progression).
