Joints

The sites where two skeletal elements come together are termed joints. The two general categories of joints (Fig. 1.19) are those in which: the skeletal elements are separated by a cavity (i.e., synovial joints); and there is no cavity and the components are held together by connective tissue (i.e., solid joints).

Blood vessels that cross a joint and nerves that innervate muscles acting on a joint usually contribute articular branches to that joint.

Synovial joints

Synovial joints are connections between skeletal components where the elements involved are separated by a narrow articular cavity (Fig. 1.20). In addition to containing an articular cavity, these joints have a number of characteristic features.

First, a layer of cartilage, usually hyaline cartilage, covers the articulating surfaces of the skeletal elements. In other words, bony surfaces do not normally contact one another directly. As a consequence, when these joints are viewed in normal radiographs, a wide gap seems to separate the adjacent bones because the cartilage that covers the articulating surfaces is more transparent to X-rays than bone.

 Figure 1.19 Joints. A. Synovial joint. B. Solid joint.

A second characteristic feature of synovial joints is the presence of a joint capsule consisting of an inner synovial membrane and an outer fibrous membrane.

• The synovial membrane attaches to the margins of the joint surfaces at the interface between the cartilage and bone and encloses the articular cavity. The synovial membrane is highly vascular and produces synovial fluid, which percolates into the articular cavity and lubricates the articulating surfaces. Closed sacs of synovial membrane also occur outside joints where they form synovial bursae or tendon sheaths. Bursae often intervene between structures, such as tendons and bone, tendons and joints, or skin and bone, and reduce the friction of one structure moving over the other. Tendon sheaths surround tendons and also reduce friction.
• The fibrous membrane is formed by dense connective tissue and surrounds and stabilizes the joint. Parts of the fibrous membrane may thicken to form ligaments, which further stabilize the joint. Ligaments outside the capsule usually provide additional reinforcement.

 Figure 1.20 Synovial joints. A. Major features of a synovial joint. B. Accessory structures associated with synovial joints.

 Another common but not universal feature of synovial joints is the presence of additional structures within the area enclosed by the capsule or synovial membrane, such as articular discs (usually composed of fibrocartilage), fat pads, and tendons. Articular discs absorb compression forces, adjust to changes in the contours of joint surfaces during movements, and increase the range of movements that can occur at joints. Fat pads usually occur between the synovial membrane and the capsule and move into and out of regions as joint contours change during movement. Redundant regions of the synovial membrane and fibrous membrane allow for large movements at joints.

Descriptions of synovial joints based on shape and movement

Synovial joints are described based on shape and movement: based on the shape of their articular surfaces, synovial joints are described as plane (flat), hinge, pivot, bicondylar (two sets of contact points), condylar (ellipsoid), saddle, and ball and socket; based on movement, synovial joints are described as uniaxial (movement in one plane), biaxial (movement in two planes), and multi-axial (movement in three planes).

Hinge joints are uniaxial, whereas ball and socket joints are multi-axial.

Specific types of synovial joints (Fig. 1.21)

Plane joints-allow sliding or gliding movements when one bone moves across the surface of another (e.g., acromioclavicular joint) Hinge joints-allow movement around one axis that passes transversely through the joint; permit flexion and extension (e.g., elbow [humeroulnar] joint) Pivot joints-allow movement around one axis that passes longitudinally along the shaft of the bone; permit rotation (e.g., atlanto-axial joint) Bicondylar joints-allow movement mostly in one axis with limited rotation around a second axis; formed by two convex condyles that articulate with concave or flat surfaces (e.g., knee joint) Condylar (ellipsoid) joints-allow movement around two axes that are at right angles to each other; permit flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction (limited) (e.g., wrist joint) Saddle joints-allow movement around two axes that are at right angles to each other; the articular surfaces are saddle shaped; permit flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction (e.g., carpometacarpal joint of the thumb) Ball and socket joints-allow movement around multiple axes; permit flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction, and rotation (e.g., hip joint)

Solid joints

 Figure 1.21 Various types of synovial joints. A. Condylar (wrist). B. Gliding (radioulnar). C. Hinge or ginglymus (elbow). D. Ball and socket (hip). E. Saddle (carpometacarpal of thumb). F. Pivot (atlanto-axial).

Solid joints are connections between skeletal elements where the adjacent surfaces are linked together either by fibrous connective tissue or by cartilage, usually fibrocartilage (Fig. 1.22). Movements at these joints are more restricted than at synovial joints.

 Fibrous joints include sutures, gomphoses, and syndesmoses.

• Sutures occur only in the skull where adjacent bones are linked by a thin layer of connective tissue termed a sutural ligament.
• Gomphoses occur only between the teeth and adjacent bone. In these joints, short collagen tissue fibers in the periodontal ligament run between the root of the tooth and the bony socket.
• Syndesmoses are joints in which two adjacent bones are linked by a ligament. Examples are the ligamentum flavum, which connects adjacent vertebral laminae, and an interosseous membrane, which links, for example, the radius and ulna in the forearm.

Cartilaginous joints include synchondroses and symphyses.

• Synchondroses occur where two ossification centers in a developing bone remain separated by a layer of cartilage, for example the growth plate that occurs between the head and shaft of developing long bones. These joints allow bone growth and eventually become completely ossified.
• Symphyses occur where two separate bones are interconnected by cartilage. Most of these types of joints occur in the midline and include the pubic symphysis between the two pelvic bones, and intervertebral discs between adjacent vertebrae.

 Figure 1.22 Solid joints.

In the clinic

Degenerative joint disease

Degenerative joint disease is commonly known as osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis. The disorder is related to aging but not caused by aging. Typically there are decreases in water and proteoglycan content within the cartilage. The cartilage becomes more fragile and more susceptible to mechanical disruption. As the cartilage wears, the underlying bone becomes fissured and also thickens. Synovial fluid may be forced into small cracks that appear in the bone's surface, which produces large cysts. Furthermore, reactive juxta-articular bony nodules are formed (osteophytes). As these processes occur, there is slight deformation, which alters the biomechanical forces through the joint. This in turn creates abnormal stresses, which further disrupt the joint (Figs. 1.23 and 1.24).

In the United States, osteoarthritis accounts for up to one-quarter of primary health care visits and is regarded as a significant problem.

The etiology of osteoarthritis is not clear; however, osteoarthritis can occur secondary to other joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and infection. Overuse of joints and abnormal strains, such as those experienced by people who play sports, often cause one to be more susceptible to chronic joint osteoarthritis.

Various treatments are available, including weight reduction, proper exercise, anti-inflammatory drug treatment, and joint replacement (Fig. 1.25).

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a technique of visualizing the inside of a joint using a small telescope placed through a tiny incision in the skin. Arthroscopy can be performed in most joints. However, it is most commonly performed in the knee, shoulder, ankle, and hip joints. The elbow joint and wrist joint can also be viewed through the arthroscope.

Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to view the inside of the joint and its contents. Notably, in the knee, the menisci and the ligaments are easily seen, and it is possible using separate puncture sites and specific instruments to remove the menisci and replace the cruciate ligaments. The advantages of arthroscopy are that it is performed through small incisions, it enables patients to quickly recover and return to normal activity, and it only requires either a light anesthetic or regional anesthesia during the procedure.

Figure 1.23 This radiograph demonstrates the loss of joint space in the medial compartment and presence of small spiky osteophytic regions at the medial lateral aspect of the joint.

 Figure 1.25 Post-knee replacement. This radiograph shows the position of the prosthesis.

Figure 1.25 Post-knee replacement. This radiograph shows the position of the prosthesis.

Joint replacement

Joint replacement is undertaken for a variety of reasons. These predominantly include degenerative joint disease and joint destruction. Joints that have severely degenerated or lack their normal function are painful, which can be life limiting, and in otherwise fit and healthy individuals can restrict activities of daily living. In some patients the pain may be so severe that it prevents them from leaving the house and undertaking even the smallest of activities without discomfort.

Large joints are commonly affected, including the hip, knee, and shoulder. However, with ongoing developments in joint replacement materials and surgical techniques, even small joints of the fingers can be replaced.

Typically, both sides of the joint are replaced; in the hip joint the acetabulum will be reamed, and a plastic or metal cup will be introduced. The femoral component will be fitted precisely to the femur and cemented in place (Fig. 1.26).

Most patients derive significant benefit from joint replacement and continue to lead an active life afterward.

 Figure 1.26 This is a radiograph, anterior-posterior view, of the pelvis after a right total hip replacement. There are additional significant degenerative changes in the left hip joint, which will also need to be replaced.

Determination of skeletal age

Throughout life the bones develop in a predictable way to form the skeletally mature adult at the end of puberty. In western countries skeletal maturity tends to occur between the ages of 20 and 25 years. However, this may well vary according to geography and socioeconomic conditions. Skeletal maturity will also be determined by genetic factors and disease states.

Up until the age of skeletal maturity, bony growth and development follows a typically predictable ordered state, which can be measured through either ultrasound, plain radiographs, or MRI scanning. Typically, the nondominant (left hand) is radiographed and is compared to a series of standard radiographs. From these images the bone age can be determined (Fig. 1.13).

In certain disease states, such as malnutrition and hypothyroidism, bony maturity may be slow. If the skeletal bone age is significantly reduced from the patient's true age, treatment may be required.

In the healthy individual the bone age accurately represents the true age of the patient. This is important in determining the true age of the subject. This may also have medicolegal importance.