Osteophyte or bone spur is a bone that grows protruding around a joint or a place where two bones meet. This condition, also known as calcification, occurs slowly and often causes no symptoms, and is mostly experienced by people over the age of 60. However, osteophytes can also occur in younger people as a result of certain injuries or medical conditions. Osteophytes can grow in any bone, but are most common in the neck, shoulders, knees, lower back, feet or heels, and toes.
Causes of Osteophytes
Osteophytes appear as a form of the body's response to disturbances that occur around the joints. The most common cause of osteophytes is osteoarthritis, which is a condition in which the cartilage around the joints slowly wears away. Cartilage is the elastic tissue that lines bones and allows joints to move easily. When cartilage is eroded, calcium deposits, which are the building blocks of bone, gradually form as the body's response to damaged cartilage.
Joint damage can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, goiter, and spinal stenosis.
In addition, there are several risk factors that can increase the risk of developing osteophytes, namely:
- Age increase
- Injury
- heredity
- Abnormalities in bone structure, such as scoliosis
- Obesity
Symptoms of Osteophytes
Most cases of osteophytes do not cause symptoms. However, symptoms can occur if there is friction between bones or with other tissues, there is pressure on the surrounding nerves, and limited body movement. Other symptoms that can appear depending on the location of the osteophyte growth. Among others are:
- Neck – Pain like pins and needles and numbness in the hand area due to pinched nerves.
- Shoulder – Swelling and erosion or tearing of the shoulder socket that protects the shoulder joint. This condition causes limited movement of the shoulder.
- Spine Osteophytes cause pinched nerves or spinal roots, causing symptoms of pain and numbness in the arm or leg area.
- Waist – Limited hip movement and pain when moving the waist.
- Finger - A lump / protrusion appears on the finger and feels hard.
- Knee – Pain when trying to straighten or bend the leg, due to obstruction of movement of the bones and tendons that connect the knee
Osteophyte Diagnosis
The process of diagnosing osteophytes is carried out by a specialist in rheumatology or an orthopedic doctor. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in treating joint disorders, while an orthopedic doctor is a surgeon who specializes in treating disorders of the bone and skeletal muscle system.
The doctor will ask about a history of symptoms, as well as a general medical history. The doctor will also perform a physical examination of the area around the affected joint. Through a physical examination, the doctor will measure the patient's muscle strength and joint movement.
If needed, imaging tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Among others are:
- X-ray Photo, to detect changes in bone structure.
- CT scan, to get a clear picture of the bone, joint, or other tissue affected by the osteophyte.
- MRI, to examine soft tissues, such as ligaments and cartilage.
- myelogram, to examine disorders that occur in the spinal canal due to osteophytes
Osteophyte Treatment
There are several treatment methods used to treat osteophytes. Among others are:
- Physiotherapy.Physical exercise aims to increase muscle strength and movement of body parts around affected joints. This therapy also includes stretching exercises, massage, and using an ice pack to relieve swelling.
- Drug.The drugs given aim to relieve symptoms of inflammation, such as pain, experienced by patients due to osteophytes. Several types of drugs are used, including:
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Corticosteroid injections, sometimes injected directly into the inflamed joint.
- Operation. Surgery is performed if the osteophyte has compressed certain nerves and is causing severe pain, thereby limiting the patient's body movement. This procedure is usually used to treat osteophytes that affect the performance of the waist, knees, or joints under the thumb. Discuss with your doctor about the risks and benefits of a surgical procedure before deciding to do it.
Osteophyte Prevention
There are several steps that can be taken to prevent and control symptoms due to osteophytes, namely:
- Lose weight if you are overweight (obese), to reduce joint stress.
- Use shoes that fit the size of your foot, to protect your feet and joints when walking.
- Do physiotherapy regularly, to train and strengthen the muscles around the joints.
- Consumption of foods and drinks that contain lots of calcium and vitamin D, to maintain bone health.
- Stand or sit with correct posture, to maintain back strength and keep the spine straight.