MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS OF OSTEOPHYTE FORMATION IN ELBOW OSTEOARTHRITIS: A REVIEW

Managing osteophyte in elbow osteoarthritis (OA) is not an easy task. In the review of the subject hereby, the molecular biology and biomechanics of osteophyte formation will be addressed in composite detail. A number of basic and clinical science research studies that have evaluated the importance and significant role of growth factors, cytokines production, receptors expression, proteoglycans, and alarmins secretion will be included. At the same time, it is notable that the osteophyte formation has not been thoroughly evaluated with respect to its biomechanics, stress and strain pattern on the joint, and its relation to growth plate and the differences that may exist between animal and human joints. Namely, a few studies have begun to look at this particular aspect of osteophyte formation, which does not cover the issue of the graded biomechanical response to the osteophyte formation. The findings of this study can conclude that biomechanical understanding of osteophyte formation has the potential to give a better solution for medical and surgical management of osteophyte formation in different joints and particularly in elbow joint. As such, the proper management of elbow OA with its significant osteophyte formation requires a comprehensive understanding of biology and biomechanics of osteophyte formation.