A Review of Osteoarthritis

Author

Madelin Brooke Session, Utah State University

Date of Award

5-2019

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which plagues many older animals and humans. It is a disease that is characterized by the degeneration of joint cartilage, inflammation, as well as chronic pain and stiffness that results from this disorder. Unfortunately, most of the treatments for this painful and chronic disease mostly involve pain management and temporary relief strategies. These strategies usually include pain medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, injectable lubricants, as well as surgical techniques. However, because these treatments are just temporary fixes meant for pain management and to improve quality of life they must continue throughout the remainder of the animal's life. The ultimate goal of this, review is to compile knowledge about osteoarthritis. This will include everything from the clinical features and prevalence of the disease, as well as some of the possible causes of this disorder. Some of the most common treatments out there to treat pain and relieve inflammation, as well as some of the more experimental treatments that might not be approved for use yet, however they do still show some promise.

Recommended Citation

Session, Madelin Brooke, "A Review of Osteoarthritis" (2019). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 524.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/524