Perceptual variation in categorizing individual peripheral joints for the presence or absence of osteoarthritis using a standard homunculus: observations based on an australian twin registry study of osteoarthritis

Abstract

The clinical diagnosis of osteoarthritis in the peripheral skeleton is dependent on the skilled examination of several features characteristic of the condition. However, we have previously observed that even highly experienced rheumatologists in Australia and Canada may not completely agree on the clinical examination in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, scleroderma and painful shoulder.