Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It Temporary?Affected Body PartsKnowing When You Have ItGoals of TreatmentManagement

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Is It Temporary?

Affected Body Parts

Knowing When You Have It

Goals of Treatment

Management

This article will explain how PTA affects you, as well as its causes, treatment options, and ways to manage it.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis in the Knee

Osteoarthritis Causes and Risk Factors

Is Post-Traumatic Arthritis Temporary?

PrevalencePost-traumatic arthritis is the cause of an estimated 12% of all cases of osteoarthritis.

Prevalence

Post-traumatic arthritis is the cause of an estimated 12% of all cases of osteoarthritis.

Different Types of Arthritis and Pain Characteristics

PTA can affect any joint that has been injured or experienced a physical trauma. However, osteoarthritis is generally associated with common body parts, including:

Types of Sports and Accidents

Studies have shown that sports injuries are risk factors for developing osteoarthritis later in life, but they can also be triggers for developing PTA immediately after injury, too.

High-contact sports, or highly physical sports in which contact injuries are likely to occur, cause the most injuries or accidents leading to PTA injuries or accidents leading to PTA.

These include:

Certain injuries are also associated with PTA, which include fractures, cartilage damage, acute ligament sprain, and chronic joint ligament instability. Experts say the most frequent clinically significant injuries are in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the menisci, and the hyaline cartilage.

Examples include:

Arthritis Joint Pain

How Do You Know If You Have Post-Traumatic Arthritis?

Unlike osteoarthritis, which develops over years, PTA will have acute or sudden signs and symptoms. These may appear right away or in the months right after injury.These will tell you whether or not you should speak to a healthcare provider about PTA.

Signs and symptoms of acute post-traumatic arthritis:

Post-traumatic arthritis may also involveinternal bleeding due to a high-impact injury.It’s important to consult a healthcare provider for a physical exam following a sports injury or accident. They can provide diagnosis and next steps for your situation to reduce inflammation, pain, and, if necessary, bleeding.

Joint Pain Causes and Treatment Options

Goal of Post-Traumatic Arthritis Treatment

This type of osteoarthritis is typically temporary, but it isn’t reversible, and there is still good reason to seek treatment for PTA. The goal of PTA treatment is tominimize symptoms, including inflammation and swelling, contributing to pain and loss of joint mobility and function.

Early Treatment BenefitsEarly and localized treatment may be an effective way to reduce likelihood of developing chronic PTA after direct joint trauma.

Early Treatment Benefits

Early and localized treatment may be an effective way to reduce likelihood of developing chronic PTA after direct joint trauma.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Managing Chronic Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Chronic PTA is when symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis persist or last for six months or more.The transition from a temporary to a permanent condition is linked to severe inflammation. Managing chronic post-traumatic arthritis will involve treating the inflammatory mechanisms causing pain.

Medications for treating pain or inflammation

Many options exist for managing chronic pain. Finding what works best to reduce inflammation and pain may take some trial and error. The following are common options for treating osteoarthritis pain.

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Lifestyle Modifications for Managing Chronic Pain

In addition to medication and following any specific treatment recommendations from your doctor or rheumatologist (arthritis specialist), experts suggest managing osteoarthritis of all kinds with exercise and assistive devices that can help support your joint strength, mobility, functioning, and overall health.

Complementary Therapies for PainYou may need more than one treatment for pain, including at-home complementary therapies forpost-traumatic arthritis. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a growing body of evidence supports the following therapies’ use for short- or long-term pain management:AcupunctureHypnosisMassage therapyMindfulness meditationMusic-based interventionsChiropractor work or spinal manipulationTai chiQigongYoga

Complementary Therapies for Pain

You may need more than one treatment for pain, including at-home complementary therapies forpost-traumatic arthritis. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a growing body of evidence supports the following therapies’ use for short- or long-term pain management:AcupunctureHypnosisMassage therapyMindfulness meditationMusic-based interventionsChiropractor work or spinal manipulationTai chiQigongYoga

You may need more than one treatment for pain, including at-home complementary therapies forpost-traumatic arthritis. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a growing body of evidence supports the following therapies’ use for short- or long-term pain management:

Surgery

Surgery for PTA may be needed in severe cases that cause persistent symptoms that interfere with quality of life.Surgical options include:

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Summary

Treatment is geared toward reducing physical trauma and inflammation and preventing chronic symptoms. Options include OTC and prescription medications, lifestyle modifications that include a range of exercises, assistive devices where necessary, and complementary therapies.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Arthritis after an injury: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis (OA).Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, Favero M, Ramonda R, Oliviero F, Scanu A.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the wrist.Amoako AO, Pujalte GG.Osteoarthritis in young, active, and athletic individuals.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;7:27-32. doi:10.4137/CMAMD.S14386Mason D, Englund M, Watt FE.Prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis at the time of injury: where are we now, and where are we going?.J Orthop Res. 2021;39(6):1152-1163. doi:10.1002/jor.24982Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Chronic pain: What you need to know.Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, et al.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Arthritis after an injury: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis (OA).Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, Favero M, Ramonda R, Oliviero F, Scanu A.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the wrist.Amoako AO, Pujalte GG.Osteoarthritis in young, active, and athletic individuals.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;7:27-32. doi:10.4137/CMAMD.S14386Mason D, Englund M, Watt FE.Prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis at the time of injury: where are we now, and where are we going?.J Orthop Res. 2021;39(6):1152-1163. doi:10.1002/jor.24982Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Chronic pain: What you need to know.Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, et al.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Arthritis after an injury: What you need to know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis (OA).Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, Favero M, Ramonda R, Oliviero F, Scanu A.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the wrist.Amoako AO, Pujalte GG.Osteoarthritis in young, active, and athletic individuals.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;7:27-32. doi:10.4137/CMAMD.S14386Mason D, Englund M, Watt FE.Prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis at the time of injury: where are we now, and where are we going?.J Orthop Res. 2021;39(6):1152-1163. doi:10.1002/jor.24982Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Chronic pain: What you need to know.Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, et al.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.

Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.Arthritis after an injury: What you need to know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis (OA).

Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, Favero M, Ramonda R, Oliviero F, Scanu A.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis of the wrist.

Amoako AO, Pujalte GG.Osteoarthritis in young, active, and athletic individuals.Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2014;7:27-32. doi:10.4137/CMAMD.S14386

Mason D, Englund M, Watt FE.Prevention of posttraumatic osteoarthritis at the time of injury: where are we now, and where are we going?.J Orthop Res. 2021;39(6):1152-1163. doi:10.1002/jor.24982

Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Chronic pain: What you need to know.

Punzi L, Galozzi P, Luisetto R, et al.Post-traumatic arthritis: overview on pathogenic mechanisms and role of inflammation.RMD Open. 2016;2(2):e000279. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2016-000279

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.

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