[Are degenerative joint diseases chronic compartment syndromes?].

An increase of the intraosseous pressure is observed in the epiphyses of bones involved in degenerative joint disease. The increase of pressure may be caused by an accumulation of osmotically active substances in the interstitium, as it has been described in case of the compartment syndrome. Based on the postulated pathophysiological mechanism, a causative therapy of degenerative joint disease is proposed.