Understanding Secondary Osteoarthritis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

When a medical condition is caused by another condition, such as a disease or injury, it is known as a secondary condition, according to the American Association on Health and Disability. Therefore, secondary osteoarthritis is a disappearance of cartilage in joints caused by another condition.

Identification

• In most cases of osteoarthritis, the cause is not known, according to the Mayo Clinic. This is identified as primary (or idiopathic) osteoarthritis.

Injury

• An injury to a bone or joint, such as one sustained while playing sports, can lead to osteoperosis, according to the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.

Stress

• Osteoarthritis can be caused by stress placed on a joint over time (for instance, in a work environment), according to the Mayo Clinic.

Disease

• Osteoarthritis can be caused by some other medical conditions, including, according to Medline Plus: hemophilia, avascular necrosis (which affects blood flow around joints) and other types of arthritis.

Bone Deformities

• People born with some bone deformities may go on to develop osteoarthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic.