Pagetic arthritis. Pathophysiology and management.

A review of the records of 112 patients demonstrate modern concepts of pathogenesis and treatment of Paget's disease. Pain from Pagetic arthritis should initially be treated by medical treatment aimed at modulation of bone blood flow. Patients, even with impressive arthritic reactions, can respond dramatically. Pain persists in patients with end-stage destruction of articular cartilage and/or stress microfractures. Patients with deformity without joint space loss may be candidates for osteotomy. Advanced cartilage destruction is treated by total arthroplasty and continuation of anti-Pagetic therapy after surgery, possibly to reduce the incidence of component loosening. Articular cartilage erosion and subchondral bone destruction are attributable to the disease process. Vascular invasion and joint surface collapse are associated with cartilage thinning and sequestration.