What is the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis?
The pathogenesis of OA is poorly understood. Repetitive trauma to articular cartilage may lead to damage and subsequent activation of the innate immune system (via release of damage-associated molecular patterns). This tends to occur in joints that bear excessive loads , such as lower extremity joints, or are used repetitively, like hand joints. Alternatively, OA may develop under normal loads if the underlying cartilage, bone, synovium, or supporting ligaments and muscles are abnormal because of any one of the number of secondary causes
