Erosive osteoarthritis

Changed by Matt Skalski, 25 May 2016

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) is a form of osteoarthritis (OA) where, as the name implies, there is an additional erosive/inflammatory component.

On imaging, it is usually characterised by proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints erosive and productive bony changes with central erosions producing the classic "gull or seagull wing" appearance. Distribution of OA, with first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint involvement, leads to the diagnosis.  

Epidemiology

There is marked female predilection (F:M ~12:1), typically presenting in the postmenopausal patient. Patients are rheumatoid factor negative.

Clinical presentation

Clinically the presentation mimics inflammatory arthropathies such as psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Patients complain of a relatively acute or subacute onset of morning stiffness in the fingers of both hands.

Systemic symptoms are however absent.

Radiographic features

Radiograph

Erosive osteoarthritis has a predilection for the hands. The dominant features are those of osteoarthritis, particularly in terms of distribution:

  • distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints
  • proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints
  • first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint

Additional characteristic features include:

  • diffuse cartilage loss, with joint space narrowing
  • subchondral erosions (at least two central erosions affecting separate IP joints); typical central location of the erosions produces the classic "gull wing" appearance
  • joint ankylosis
  • absence of 2
    • marginal erosions
    • fusiform soft-tissue swelling
    • osteopaenia

Treatment and prognosis

Treatment is conservative unless joint destruction and/or contractures, which may require surgical arthrodesis, arthroplasty, or tendon repair.

The prognosis is good with remission after several years being seen in most patient. The degenerative changes of course remain and are then merely those of osteoarthritis.

Differential diagnosis

Imaging differential considerations include:

  • -<p><strong>Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA)</strong> is a form of <a href="/articles/osteoarthritis">osteoarthritis (OA)</a> where, as the name implies, there is an additional erosive/inflammatory component.</p><p>On imaging, it is usually characterised by proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints erosive and productive bony changes with central erosions producing the classic "gull or seagull wing" appearance. Distribution of OA, with first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint involvement, leads to the diagnosis.  </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>There is marked female predilection (F:M ~12:1), typically presenting in the postmenopausal patient. Patients are rheumatoid factor negative.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Clinically the presentation mimics inflammatory arthropathies such as <a title="Psoriatic arthritis" href="/articles/psoriatic-arthritis">psoriatic arthritis</a> or <a title="Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)" href="/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis">rheumatoid arthritis</a>. Patients complain of a relatively acute or subacute onset of morning stiffness in the fingers of both hands.</p><p>Systemic symptoms are however absent.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Radiograph</h5><p>Erosive osteoarthritis has a predilection for the hands. The dominant features are those of osteoarthritis, particularly in terms of distribution:</p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA)</strong> is a form of <a href="/articles/osteoarthritis">osteoarthritis (OA)</a> where, as the name implies, there is an additional erosive/inflammatory component.</p><p>On imaging, it is usually characterised by proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints erosive and productive bony changes with central erosions producing the classic "gull or seagull wing" appearance. Distribution of OA, with first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint involvement, leads to the diagnosis.  </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>There is marked female predilection (F:M ~12:1), typically presenting in the postmenopausal patient. Patients are rheumatoid factor negative.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Clinically the presentation mimics inflammatory arthropathies such as <a href="/articles/psoriatic-arthritis">psoriatic arthritis</a> or <a href="/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis">rheumatoid arthritis</a>. Patients complain of a relatively acute or subacute onset of morning stiffness in the fingers of both hands.</p><p>Systemic symptoms are however absent.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Radiograph</h5><p>Erosive osteoarthritis has a predilection for the hands. The dominant features are those of osteoarthritis, particularly in terms of distribution:</p><ul>
  • -<li>for more wider differential refer to: <a href="/articles/differential-diagnosis-of-erosive-arthritis">differential diagnosis of erosive arthritis</a>
  • +<li>for a wider differential list refer to: <a href="/articles/differential-diagnosis-of-erosive-arthritis">differential diagnosis of erosive arthritis</a>

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