X-rays show bones and the way they interact with each other in the joints. They are useful for evaluating the amount of cartilage at the ends of bones, underlying bone deformities and conditions that can cause arthritis, and bone changes that can be caused by arthritis. Regardless of the affected joint, conventional radiographs (X-rays) are used to evaluate osteoarthritis of the joint. The presence of osteoarthritis is shown on the X-ray as a narrowing or reduction of the space between the bones of the joint where the cartilage has worn out, as well as by the formation of osteophytes (bone spurs) on the margins of the articulation.
A finding of arthritis in the result of an X-ray is extraordinary only if it occurs sooner than it should, if it progresses faster than expected, or if it is associated with other evidence that indicates inflammatory-type arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. X-rays can help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis by showing changes in bones and joints. They are often used in conjunction with other imaging tests, such as MRI or ultrasound. Arthritis is usually diagnosed using x-rays.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is related to wear and tear, genetics and injury, and is a normal part of the aging process. Joint arthritis involves a narrowing of the space between the bones as the cartilage thins, the formation of bone spurs at the edges of the joint, small cysts inside the bone, and sometimes a deformity of the joint that makes it appear crooked. See the X-ray for the most common findings in osteoarthritis of the hand. The joints closest to the fingertip and the joint at the base of the thumb are the joints in the hand most affected by osteoarthritis.
