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What is Post-Traumatic Arthritis?

3 min read  |  December 04, 2024  | 
Disponible en Español |

A lifetime of wear and tear on your joints can lead to pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, among other symptoms, known as osteoarthritis. In some cases, a car accident, a fall, or a sports injury can cause these symptoms. This is called post-traumatic arthritis, and it is more common than many people realize. According to the journal Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases, it accounts for around 12% of all osteoarthritis cases.

“Post-traumatic arthritis is the deterioration of the cartilage of a joint secondary to a previous injury to a joint in the body,” says Fernando Vilella-Hernandez, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Miami Health System and director of orthopaedic trauma at Ryder Trauma Center for Jackson Health System.

“Depending on the joint, it can involve direct injury via fracture or damage to a structural ligament around that joint.”

It’s different than other forms of arthritis.

Many people generally consider osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, a symptom of aging. It affects approximately half of all adults at some point.

Aside from being caused by trauma rather than overuse and age, post-traumatic arthritis is usually temporary. Symptoms tend to resolve over a few months.

“The symptoms can vary from occasional joint discomfort and stiffness to severe pain that can be debilitating and affect quality of life,” says Dr. Vilella. Age-related osteoarthritis is typically long-lasting (chronic), so symptoms must be managed as you age.

Post-traumatic arthritis is more common among younger people due to the event-related nature of the condition.

With osteoarthritis, onset typically doesn’t occur until after the age of 50.

Also, post-traumatic arthritis can be a more frequent outcome after a bone fracture. That’s not typically the case when osteoarthritis occurs.

“Post-traumatic arthritis most commonly occurs due to a secondary fracture that involves a joint,” says Dr. Vilella. “The body’s response to post-traumatic arthritis occurs at the level of the cartilage within a joint. The cartilage within an uninjured joint is known as hyaline cartilage. When the body heals, it produces fibrocartilage, which does provide some cushioning but is not as good.”

Treating post-traumatic arthritis

Post-traumatic conditions are similar to osteoarthritis. Therefore, some lifestyle strategies and medical treatments to reduce symptoms are alike.

This will vary, of course, based on the affected body part and the severity of the symptoms. For example, your doctor might recommend:

  • Low-impact exercises to improve mobility while reducing pain. This includes activities like swimming or cycling.
  • Physical therapy in the office, with at-home exercises provided by your therapist.
  • Wearing a brace to cushion and reduce tension on the joint.
  • Weight loss to reduce the overall impact of wear and tear on your body’s joints.
  • Rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers.

For more extreme cases, doctors may require injections at the joint and even surgery. Fortunately, the majority of post-traumatic arthritis cases tend to resolve over time. 


Wyatt Myers is a contributor for UHealth’s news service.


Sources

Arthritis, Cleveland Clinic, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12061-arthritis

Post-Traumatic Arthritis, Cleveland Clinic, 2021, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14616-post-traumatic-arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis: Overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation, Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases, 2016, https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000279

Interview with Fernando Vilella, M.D., orthopedic surgeon

Tags: arthritis treatment, connective tissues, Dr. Fernando Vilella, joint injuries, joint stiffness

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