How an Osteophyte (Bone Spur) Develops

An osteophyte is a smooth bony growth or deposit, also referred to as a bone spur. They grow slowly over time and often have no symptoms.

Osteophytes can cause pain if they impinge on other structures or grow so large as to restrict movement in a joint. 

Osteophytes are also sometimes called osteochondral nodules, osteochondrophytes, and chondro-osteophytes.

Osteophytes in Arthritis

Osteophytes often develop in joints that show signs of degeneration. They are associated with the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis. Their presence can serve to distinguish osteoarthritis from other types of arthritis. While osteoarthritis involves degradation of cartilage, there is also remodeling of the subchondral bone in the joint, which can include forming bone spurs.

Formation of Osteophytes

Technically speaking, an osteophyte is a fibrocartilage-capped bony outgrowth originating from precursor cells in the periosteum, the tissue that lines the bones and contains the cells that form new bone. Transforming growth factor β plays a role in their development.

An osteophyte develops when the remaining cartilage in a damaged joint attempts a repair after there is cartilage loss elsewhere in the joint. It tends to form in the joint compartment where there has been cartilage loss, suggesting it is a localized event. Osteophyte formation stabilizes the damaged joint.

That said, exactly how they form and what stimulates their formation is not completely understood. Osteophytes can also develop in the absence of explicit cartilage damage.

Location of Osteophyte Formation

Marginal osteophytes can develop at the periphery or margin of any joint. Central osteophytes are most prominent in the hip and knee.

Osteophytes also may be found in the spine region, where they are associated with back or neck pain and considered a common sign of degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis).

Sensory symptoms in this situation include pain, numbness, burning and pins and needles in the extremity served by the affected spinal nerve root. Motor symptoms include muscle spasm, cramping, weakness or loss of muscular control in an associated part of the body. The osteophyte itself is not painful, but its location and therefore its effect on other structures of the body can cause pain.

Risk Factors for Osteophyte Formation

Certain factors and conditions may contribute to the formation of osteophyte. These include:

• Increased age
• Disc degeneration
• Joint degeneration
• Sports injury or other joint injury
• Poor posture
• Genetics
• Congenital skeletal abnormalities

Diagnosing Osteophytes

Osteophyte formation in the hand can be diagnosed by a physical exam of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP), distal interphalangeal joint (DIP), and first carpometacarpal joint (CMC). Simply put, in the hand, a bump or lump may be visible during a physical examination.

For other joints, the presence of an osteophyte can be diagnosed using imaging studies, such as X-rays or MRI or CT scan. If X-rays were performed on everyone over 50 years of age, most would show some evidence of osteophyte formation. Yet, most osteophytes don't produce any symptoms.

Treatment of Osteophytes

The presence of an osteophyte alone is not clinically significant unless associated symptoms are experienced. Treatment methods may include:

• Physical therapy
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Analgesics (painkillers)
• Steroid Injections
• Surgery: In the spine, removal of an osteophyte may be necessary for direct decompression of nerve impingement or to increase spinal canal width to reduce pinching by the osteophyte.

Typically, conservative treatment is tried first. Surgery is reserved for people who have severe symptoms. Activity tends to increase pain associated with an osteophyte, while rest helps to lessen pain.