Sovani Sujata, Grogan Shawn P
Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Orthop Nurs. 2013 Jan-Feb;32(1):25-36; quiz 37-8. doi: 10.1097/NOR.0b013e31827d96da.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the joint, and age is the major risk factor for its development. Clinical manifestation of OA includes joint pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility. Currently, no pharmacological treatments are available to treat this specific joint disease; only symptom-modifying drugs are available. Improvement in imaging technology, identification of biomarkers, and increased understanding of the molecular basis of OA will aid in detecting the early stages of disease. Yet the development of interventional strategies remains elusive and will be critical for effective prevention of OA-associated joint destruction. The potential of cell-based therapies may be applicable in improving joint function in mild to more advanced cases of OA. Ongoing studies to understand the basis of this disease will eventually lead to prevention and treatment strategies and will also be a key in reducing the social and economic burden of this disease. Nurses are advised to provide an integrative approach of disease assessment and management in OA patients' care with a focus on education and implementation. Knowledge and understanding of OA and how this affects the individual patient form the basis for such an integrative approach to all-round patient care and disease management.
骨关节炎（OA）是一种关节疾病，年龄是其发病的主要危险因素。OA的临床表现包括关节疼痛、僵硬和活动能力丧失。目前，尚无治疗这种特定关节疾病的药物治疗方法；仅有改善症状的药物。成像技术的改进、生物标志物的识别以及对OA分子基础的深入了解将有助于检测疾病的早期阶段。然而，介入策略的开发仍然难以捉摸，对于有效预防OA相关的关节破坏至关重要。基于细胞的疗法在改善轻度至更严重OA病例的关节功能方面可能具有应用潜力。正在进行的了解这种疾病基础的研究最终将导致预防和治疗策略的产生，也将是减轻这种疾病的社会和经济负担的关键。建议护士在OA患者护理中提供综合的疾病评估和管理方法，重点是教育和实施。对OA的知识和理解以及其如何影响个体患者构成了这种全面患者护理和疾病管理综合方法的基础。
