Evarts Joint Center

Conditions We Treat

Conditions that can lead to joint problems include:

Avascular necrosis (Osteonecrosis)—Can result when bone is deprived of its normal blood supply. Without proper nutrition from the blood, the bone’s structure weakens and may collapse and damage the cartilage. The condition often occurs after long-term treatment with cortisone or after organ transplantation.

Congenital deformities—Can cause degeneration of the knee and hip joints. These include:
- Achondroplasia
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes
- Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
Osteoarthritis (OA)—Sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it is a "wearing out" condition involving the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. When cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. OA usually occurs in people aged 50 years and older, and frequently in individuals with a family history of osteoarthritis.
Osteoporosis—A process of progressive bone loss that develops unnoticed over many years, often with no symptoms or discomfort.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)—Produces chemical changes in the synovium that cause it to become thickened and inflamed. In turn, the synovial fluid destroys cartilage. The end result is cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. RA affects women about three times more often than men, and may affect other organs of the body.
Post-traumatic arthritis—May develop after an injury to the joint in which the bone and cartilage do not heal properly. The joint is no longer smooth and these irregularities lead to more wear on the joint surfaces.
Severe fractures—Fractures that cannot be repaired with fixation techniques, such as when the bones involved are fragile or weak.

Get information on conditions and treatments by viewing the articles in our Orthopaedic Information Center.

If you experience any of these symptoms a complete evaluation should be done: