Synonyms
Arthrosis of the finger joints, polyarthrosis of the finger joints, arthrosis of the end of the finger joint, arthrosis of the middle finger joint, polyarthrosis, polyarthrosis, arthrosis of the finger joints Medical: Herbed arthrosis, bouchard arthrosis
Introduction
Finger arthrosis is a joint disease that is accompanied by wear and tear of the joints and a narrowing of the joint space. It usually first causes considerable problems and pain in the fingers due to a feeling of tension in the fingers and problems with everyday exertion of strength in the hands, such as opening a screw cap. Stiffness of the hands in the morning also indicates the beginning of arthrosis. Various forms of finger arthrosis can be distinguished, affecting the end joints of the fingers, the middle joints of the fingers, the thumb saddle joint or the carpal bones.
Definition
Polyarthrosis is a painful arthrosis (= degenerative, i.e. wear-related joint disease) that occurs simultaneously in several or many joints. Typical for such a disease is that the cartilage layer, which should actually protect the joint, is used up. Polyarthrosis particularly affects the finger end, middle finger and thumb saddle joints, but knee and hip joints as well as the metatarsophalangeal joints of the big toe can also be affected.
There are different forms of arthrosis of the finger joints. The name indicates the joint areas to which it refers. For example, arthrosis of the end joints of the fingers is called siphon arthrosis, arthrosis of the middle joints of the fingers is called bouchard arthrosis and arthrosis of the thumb saddle joint is called rhizarthrosis. The term “polyarthrosis” implies that arthrosis does not only affect a single joint, but several.
Gender distribution
Due to the hormonal component, women suffer from osteoarthritis far more frequently than men. Statistically speaking, the gender distribution is 10 : 1.
What is finger arthrosis?
As already mentioned, arthrosis is a wear-related joint disease in the course of which the cartilage layer of the joint is used up and no longer rebuilt. The reasons for the occurrence of arthrosis are usually of an individual nature (see below). As a result, pain initially develops, depending on the load, and later also at rest.
The symptoms that occur vary depending on the affected joint. In patients with siphoning arthrosis, i.e. arthrosis of the end joints of the fingers, bulges in the form of nodules on the finger joints can be felt at a very early stage. If Bouchard arthrosis, i.e. arthrosis of the middle finger joints, is present, the nodules often appear with joint swelling. In the early stages of arthrosis of the thumb saddle joint (rhizarthrosis), only load-dependent pain occurs, so that especially activities that require the thumb to be gripped are painful. In later stages, the pain also occurs at rest and may radiate into other areas.
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