Heberden’s nodes can form on the joints of the fingers in people who have osteoarthritis. These nodes can cause stiffness and pain in the fingers. They are most common near the finger joints and can make the fingers appear crooked.
Heberden’s nodes are only found in those with osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition of the bones. These growths may cause discomfort, pain and stiffness.
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Causes
Every joint has a protective layer of cartilage. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage layer to slowly degrade, allowing bones to come into direct contact. Over time, bones can be damaged by rubbing together.
Nodes are the new bone formations that occur when this type of damage occurs. Heberden’s nodes is a type of bone formation which can occur on the fingers when severe OA occurs.
Symptoms
Heberden’s nodes can appear as bony growths at the joint of the finger, causing the fingers to deform. Some people may not experience any symptoms, or have only mild symptoms. Symptoms can also be more prominent in some people, and include:
- Pain
- Inflammation in the fingers
- Stiffness in the affected area
- Loss of finger motion
Heberden’s nodes are only present in severe cases of OA. Therefore, the symptoms above can go unnoticed. It could be because of the severity of the other symptoms or that the person has become accustomed to avoiding using their finger joints.
Risk factors
Heberden’s nodes are only found in people with OA. However, the cause of these growths of bone is unknown. Risk factors include:
- Age
- Family history
- Obesity
- Joint injury
