English
Other examination
Other examination back-up
In practice, a simple x-ray is generally sufficient for the diagnosis and follow-up.
However, in some cases other examinations may be prescribed for you: air or opaque arthrography, scan, scintigraphy, MRI and arthroscopy provide more details on how the cartilage has been affected and enable better visualisation of its destruction and/or the bone reaction.
Only exceptionally is a synovial biopsy required. It is of very limited practical interest.
However, in some cases other examinations may be prescribed for you: air or opaque arthrography, scan, scintigraphy, MRI and arthroscopy provide more details on how the cartilage has been affected and enable better visualisation of its destruction and/or the bone reaction.
Only exceptionally is a synovial biopsy required. It is of very limited practical interest.
Radiological signs
They are easily interpretable by your general practitioner. They consist in:
Narrowing of the joint space located in the main pressure zone of the joint.
The presence of osteophytes which enlarge joint margins.
Condensation of the subchondral bone (located under the cartilage) in the region of the narrowing of joint space.
Cavities which are capricious and settled within the condensation (appearance of rounded, greyish areas in the condensation).
At an advanced stage, an erosion of the subchondral bone located in the pressure zone where the cartilage has disappeared.
Narrowing of the joint space located in the main pressure zone of the joint.
The presence of osteophytes which enlarge joint margins.
Condensation of the subchondral bone (located under the cartilage) in the region of the narrowing of joint space.
Cavities which are capricious and settled within the condensation (appearance of rounded, greyish areas in the condensation).
At an advanced stage, an erosion of the subchondral bone located in the pressure zone where the cartilage has disappeared.
Biological signs
There are no specific biological signs of osteoarthritis.
The synovial fluid, which as a rule is absent during inflammatory flare-ups, is said to be mechanical (cooking oil appearance), i.e. pale, viscous, containing less than 1,000 white blood cells/mm3, with less than 50% of polynuclear cells.
The synovial fluid, which as a rule is absent during inflammatory flare-ups, is said to be mechanical (cooking oil appearance), i.e. pale, viscous, containing less than 1,000 white blood cells/mm3, with less than 50% of polynuclear cells.
