26th January 2024

Background

There is large variability in clinical presentation of OA between individuals and different joints affected in the same person. The diagnosis of OA is largely clinical and can be made in patients with suggestive features without the need for further investigations. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness, although patients often present with functional impairment. The knees, hips and small joints of the hands, namely the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints, and the spine (particularly lumbar and cervical regions) are most commonly affected. OA is an unlikely diagnosis in patients with ankle or wrist symptoms, and other differentials should be considered.