Conservative and Surgical Management of the Osteoarthritic Hand and Wrist

Course Description

OA, also known as osteoarthrosis and degenerative joint disease (DJD) is the most common form of arthritis found in the hand and upper extremity (Arthritis Foundation, 2017; Lubahn, Wolfe, & Feldscher, 2011). As many as 54.4 million Americans – or approximately 28% of the adult population – are affected, most of whom are over the age of 45 (Hootman, Helmick, Barbour, Theis, & Boring, 2016). Characterized by loss of the articular cartilage of a joint, OA can lead to stiffness, bony sclerosis, capsular thickening, pain, and disability. Impaired movement of the joints, as well as disuse and weakness resulting from pain, can lead to significant limitations in occupations such as self-care, work, leisure, and social participation (Taylor, Galantino, & Walkowich, 2011).