Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the cushioning cartilage that covers the bone surfaces at the joints begins to wear out. It may be caused by simple “wear and tear” on joints, or it may develop after an injury to a joint. In the hand, osteoarthritis most often develops in three sites:

-At the base of the thumb, where the thumb and wrist come together (the trapezio-metacarpal, or basilar, joint)
-At the end joint closest to the finger tip (the distal interphalangeal or DIP joint)
-At the middle joint of a finger (the proximal interphalangeal or PIP joint)

It also often develops in the wrist.

Female Hand Male