what is post traumatic osteoarthritis

“Arthritis” is defined as inflammation of a joint. The most common cause is wearing out of joint surface cartilage (osteoarthritis). Post-traumatic arthritis is caused by the wearing out of a joint that has had any kind of physical injury

The injury could be from sports, a vehicle accident, a fall, a military injury, or any other source of physical trauma. Such injuries can damage the cartilage and/or the bone, changing the mechanics of the joint and making it wear out more quickly. The wearing-out process is accelerated by continued injury and excess body weight.

The symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis include joint pain, swelling, fluid accumulation in the joint, and decreased tolerance for walking, sports, stairs, and other activities that stress the joint.