THE AGE FACTOR IN HYPERTROPHIC ARTHRITIS

¹ The Anatomical Laboratory Western Reserve University.

Hypertrophic bone changes represent the reaction of bone and joint structures to the wear and tear of life. They are more pronounced in certain types of individuals and are aggravated by continued local irritation of any character.

These changes rarely occur before the thirty-fifth year of age but are progressive thereafter. They may exist to a marked degree without clinical symptoms. Being the result of metabolic changes rather than the cause, their presence does not prohibit relief from such symptoms.

The bone changes are permanent. Treatment of the symptoms must be directed toward the removal of all possible sources of continued irritation. These include mechanical strains, focal infections, intoxications, and absorptions, any or all of which factors may be present in a given case.

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