Topic Overview
Most people find osteoarthritis to be a nuisance that eventually
becomes significant enough to affect their daily activities. And sometimes
there are more serious complications.
Possible complications of
osteoarthritis include:
- Rapid, complete breakdown of
cartilage resulting in loose tissue material in the
joint (chondrolysis).
- Bone death
(osteonecrosis).
- Stress
fractures (hairline crack in the bone that develops
gradually in response to repeated injury or stress).
- Bleeding
inside the joint.
- Infection in the joint.
- Deterioration
or rupture of the tendons and ligaments around the joint, leading to loss of
stability.
- Pinched nerve (in osteoarthritis of the spine).
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerStanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
Current as ofOctober 31, 2016