| Traumatic osteoarthritis or post-traumatic osteoarthritis | | | | not the joint was absolutely normal even before the |
| as it is better known is mainly caused due to an injury | | | | injury and whether or not any evidence of structural |
| of the joints, followed by a number of physiological and | | | | damage was found only within a few days of the |
| mechanical changes. A patient may develop arthritis in | | | | injury. Many a times, a closer investigation into the |
| a joint which may have been previously injured. The | | | | history of the injury also reveals that it was not that |
| development of arthritis in that joint though may or | | | | bad enough to have caused an internal joint condition |
| may not be related to the injury. The progressive | | | | like arthritis. |
| degeneration of the joint after an injury along with the | | | | However, if the injury may have caused a dislocation |
| genetic or other natural causes of bone degeneration | | | | of the bone, a fracture, a torn ligament or anything as |
| worsen the condition as the patient grows in age. It is | | | | serious then it may have led to the present condition |
| extremely important for the treatment, to know | | | | of arthritis which can easily be classified as traumatic |
| whether or not the condition is a direct consequence | | | | arthritis. Also, if one realizes that only the previously |
| of the injury. | | | | injured joint is affected then too it is a case of |
| There are various factors which can lead to conclude | | | | traumatic arthritis. An MRI scan can sufficiently |
| whether or not the patient?s condition is a case of | | | | establish the condition. |
| traumatic arthritis. If it is noted that other joints are also | | | | The disease becomes evident only 2 to 5 years after |
| suffering from similar symptoms as the traumatized | | | | the injury. However, certain changes which are |
| joint then the condition is definitely not one of traumatic | | | | symptomatic of an osteoarthritic condition maybe |
| osteoarthritis. One must also try to recall whether or | | | | visible immediately after the injury. |