In osteoarthritis, which nodes are associated with the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, respectively?

In osteoarthritis, which nodes are associated with the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints, respectively?

• A. Herberden's node for DIP and Bouchard's node for PIP
• B. Bouchard's node for DIP and Heberden's node for PIP
• C. Swan neck deformity for PIP
• D. Heberden's for MCP

Answer: (A)

In osteoarthritis, nodal enlargements tend to appear at the finger joints where cartilage wears away and new bone forms. The distal interphalangeal joints (the joints closest to the fingertips) develop Heberden's nodes, while the proximal interphalangeal joints (the middle finger joints) develop Bouchard's nodes. So the correct pairing is Heberden's nodes at the DIP and Bouchard's nodes at the PIP. The other options mix up the joint locations or point to deformities more typical of rheumatoid arthritis (for example, Swan neck) or involve the wrong joints (such as MCP).

In osteoarthritis, nodal enlargements tend to appear at the finger joints where cartilage wears away and new bone forms. The distal interphalangeal joints (the joints closest to the fingertips) develop Heberden's nodes, while the proximal interphalangeal joints (the middle finger joints) develop Bouchard's nodes. So the correct pairing is Heberden's nodes at the DIP and Bouchard's nodes at the PIP. The other options mix up the joint locations or point to deformities more typical of rheumatoid arthritis (for example, Swan neck) or involve the wrong joints (such as MCP).