What Is The Difference Between Primary And Secondary Osteoarthritis?

Dr. Roy Altman answers the question: 'Primary Versus Secondary Osteoarthritis?'

By
Roy Altman, M.D., Clinical Professor, Rheumatology, UCLA
November 21, 2008, 10:18 AM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: What is the difference between primary and secondary osteoarthritis?

Answer: When we use the term primary osteoarthritis, we mean that we don't know the reason for it. In other words, most people who develop osteoarthritis, we don't really know the cause. Secondary osteoarthritis means that we do have an associated reason -- another form of arthritis, an injury or a congenital abnormality, for instance, are examples of secondary osteoarthritis.

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