An osteophyte, sometimes known as a bone spur, is a small bone prominence that can occur on the joints of the body. The cause of osteophytes depends on the exact condition but are often the result of arthritis or other diseases including bone infections. Although some bone spurs form naturally many will limit the movement of a joint and also cause pain to the patient. In many joints the formation of an osteophyte signifies the degeneration of that area of the body.

The reason that bone spurs initially form is that a joint is being put under more pressure than it can cope with. When the body realizes that a joint is becoming damaged, often by conditions such as arthritis, then it attempts to increase the surface area of the joint by using an osteophyte. Unfortunately, this can cause additional pain and may limit the movement of the joint. Due to bone spurs being caused by degenerative diseases, they are often used as a metric to discover the severity of a person’s condition.

There are two main types of osteophyte. The first is the marginal type and these can develop on the edge of every joint in the body. A central osteophyte usually occurs in the knee or hip although they have been known to form elsewhere. The spurs form from tissue around the edge of the joint. Usually a bone spur will form due to damage that occurs due to inflammation, although the spurs can also come from damage at ligament or tendon attachment points.

Diagnosing an osteophyte is usually a straightforward process. A simple X-ray will often show the location of the spurs. Sometimes a clinical assessment is all that’s needed. Although bone spurs can be a major problem, they are present in most people over the age of 50, although not all cases will cause complications or pain.

The treatment for an osteophyte depends on the severity of the individual’s condition. In mild cases physical therapy and painkillers will often be used to help control the problem and reduce pain. In the worst cases surgery may be required in order to fix the spur although this isn’t usually necessary. Sometimes certain supplements may be used in order to help the condition.

Bone spurs form in the back naturally as a person gets older. It is possible to tell how much the spine has degenerated by looking at the number of bone spurs. Often the spurs are the symptoms of a more serious underlying condition.