Glenohumeral osteoarthritis: an overview of etiology and diagnostics

Abstract

Background and Aims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the world’s most common joint disease and there is currently no cure. Glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) accounts for an estimated 5% -17% of patients with shoulder complaints. The etiology of GHOA is multifactorial, and we review the various non-specific and specific risk factors and further sub-classify them into local and systemic factors. Materials and Methods: Data for this review article were identified by searches of MEDLINE, PubMed, and references from relevant articles using search terms such as “glenohumeral,” “osteoarthritis,” “epidemiology,” “etiology,” “imaging,” and “pathophysiology.” Only articles published in English, German, and Finnish between 1957 and 2017 were included. Results: The prevalence of radiological shoulder OA has been estimated to be as high as 16% -20% in the middle-aged and elderly population, but the concordance between structural findings and symptoms seems to be weak, as many of these individuals are asymptomatic. The vast majority of GHOA is related to non-specific factors, namely advancing age, while specific risk factors are commonly found in young patients. Diagnosis of GHOA is made when typical clinical features and defined radiological findings overlap in an individual. Conclusion: Ultimately the determinants of shoulder pain in GHOA remain incompletely understood. Improved understanding of the etiology and diagnosis of GHOA will enable clinicians to better determine which patients will benefit from different treatment modalities, as well as provide new avenues to potential treatments.

The Causal Relationship Between Body Mass Index and the Risk of Osteoarthritis

“…Some studies have suggested that individuals with high BMI might be with increased joint load and therefore it accelerates the aging of the articular surface, leading to the occurrence and aggravation of osteoarthritis. 21 In addition, obesity can induce the development of inflammation by increasing the intermediates produced by lipid metabolism, leading to osteoarthritis. 22 However, more researches are need for further study.…”

Review of Extraosseous Applications of Thermal Ablation in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Large Joint Osteoarthritis

“…63 64 As age increases from 40 to 80 years, shoulder OA prevalence increases from 1.8% to 27.5%, respectively. 65 Patients who exercise excessively or practice occupations that require over-the-head lifting can also accelerate shoulder OA. Other risk factors include surgeries such as arthroscopic Bankart repairs, fractures, rotator cuff pathology, scapular dysmorphology, inflammatory arthritis, and avascular necrosis of the humeral head.…”

Etiologic Factors of Rotator Cuff Disease in Elderly: Modifiable Factors in Addition to Known Demographic Factors

“…Degenerative changes in the glenohumeral joints have been found in up to 17% of patients with shoulder pain, which has increased over the last 40 years [ 11 , 12 ]. The general prevalence of shoulder disease in the elderly is 5–17%, which is lower than that of other degenerative musculoskeletal diseases, including spine, hand, and knee (462 out of 696 (66%) in the spine, 415 out of 692 (60%) in the hand, 265 out of 696 (38%) in the knee, 36 out of 696 (5%) in the shoulder, and 15 out of 686 (2%), respectively) [ 13 , 14 ]. Because symptomatic glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) is lower than other weight-bearing musculoskeletal OA, the importance of the functional activity to reduce GHOA should be considered to reveal the precise relationship with shoulder OA.…”