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Bone spur
Classification and external resources
Small marginal osteophytes (arrows) of the processus anconeus of the ulna can be seen in this gross pathological specimen of a sow.
ICD-10	M25.7, M77.9
ICD-9	726.91
DiseasesDB	18621
MeSH	D054850

Osteophytes, also known as bone spurs,^{[citation needed]} are bony projections that usually form along joints.^[1]

Contents 1 Pathophysiology 2 Cause 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Pathophysiology

Bone spurs form due to the increase in a damaged joint's surface area. This is most commonly from the onset of arthritis. Bone spurs usually limit joint movement and typically cause pain. ^[2]

Bone spurs form naturally on the back of spine as a person ages and are a sign of degeneration in the spine. In this case the spurs are not the source of back pains, but instead are the common symptom of a deeper problem. However, bone spurs on the spine can impinge on nerves that leave the spine for other parts of the body. This impingement can cause pain in both upper and lower limbs and a numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet due to the nerves supplying sensation to their dermatomes.^[3]

Spurs can also appear on the feet, either along toes or the heel, as well as on the hands. In extreme cases bone spurs have grown along a person's entire skeletal structure: along the knees, hips, shoulders, ribs, arms and ankles. Such cases are only exhibited with multiple exostoses.

Osteophytes on the fingers or toes are known as Heberden's nodes (if on the DIP joint) or Bouchard's nodes (if on the PIP joints).

Bone spurs may also be the end result of certain disease processes. Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, may leave the adjacent bone with a spur formation. Charcot foot, the neuropathic breakdown of the feet seen primarily in diabetics, will also leave bone spurs which may then become symptomatic.

[edit] Cause

Osteophyte formation has been classically related to any sequential and consequential changes in bone formation due to aging, degeneration, mechanical instability, and disease. Often osteophytes form in osteoarthritic joints due to damage and wear from inflammation. Calcification and new bone formation can also occur in response to mechanical damage in joints, or at the attachment points for ligaments and tendons.^[4]

[edit] References

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This article contains weasel words, vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (May 2009)

[edit] External links

• Mayo Clinic website concise information on bone spurs

v • d • e Musculoskeletal disorders: Arthropathies (M00-M19, 711-719) Arthritis (monoarthritis/ polyarthritis) Inflammation (Neutrophilia) Infectious Septic arthritis · Tuberculosis arthritis · Reactive arthritis (indirectly) Noninfectious Seronegative spondyloarthropathy: Reactive arthritis · Psoriatic arthritis · Ankylosing spondylitis Rheumatoid arthritis: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis · Adult-onset Still's disease · Felty's syndrome Crystal arthropathy: Gout · Chondrocalcinosis Noninflammatory Osteoarthritis: Heberden's node · Bouchard's nodes Other hemorrhage (Hemarthrosis) · pain (Arthralgia) · Osteophyte · Hypermobility · villonodular synovitis (Pigmented villonodular synovitis) · Joint stiffness joint navs: anat, non-congenital arthropathies/deformities/dorsopathies/soft tissue arthropathy/congenital, eponymous signs, proc

v • d • e Soft tissue disorders / Rheumatism / Connective tissue arthropathy (M65-M79, 725-727) Capsular Synoviopathy Synovitis/Tenosynovitis (Calcific tendinitis, Stenosing tenosynovitis, Trigger finger, DeQuervain's syndrome) · Transient synovitis · Ganglion cyst osteochondromatosis (Synovial osteochondromatosis) · Plica syndrome villonodular synovitis (Giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath) Bursopathy Bursitis (Olecranon, Prepatellar, Trochanteric, Subacromial) · Synovial cyst (Baker's cyst) Noncapsular Fasciopathy Fasciitis: Plantar · Nodular · Necrotizing · Eosinophilic Fibromatosis/contracture Dupuytren's contracture · Peyronie's disease · Plantar fibromatosis · Aggressive fibromatosis · Knuckle pads Tendinopathy/ Enthesopathy/Enthesitis upper limb (Adhesive capsulitis of shoulder, Rotator cuff tear, Golfer's elbow, Tennis elbow) lower limb (Iliotibial band syndrome, Patellar tendinitis, Achilles tendinitis, Calcaneal spur, Metatarsalgia) · Bone spur other/general: Tendinitis · Tendinosis joint navs: anat, non-congenital arthropathies/deformities/dorsopathies/soft tissue arthropathy/congenital, eponymous signs, proc muscle, DF+DRCT navs: anat/hist/physio, acquired myopathy/congenital myopathy/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc