The Wear and Tear Condition: Examining the Pathogenesis, Current Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions, and Future Regenerative Therapies for Primary Osteoarthritis
Primary Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent chronic joint disorder, characterized by the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage and the remodeling of underlying bone, leading to joint pain, stiffness, and loss of functional mobility, most commonly in the knees, hips, and hands. Unlike inflammatory arthritis, this condition is primarily mechanical in nature, often considered a "wear-and-tear" disease, although its pathogenesis involves complex biological processes, including low-grade inflammation and cellular stress.
Current management focuses on symptom control and maintaining joint function through weight management, physical therapy, and pharmacological agents like NSAIDs, with joint replacement surgery reserved for end-stage disease. The group can discuss the latest research into disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs), the effectiveness of intra-articular injections, and the potential of cell-based regenerative medicine to repair damaged cartilage.