Classification Criteria
for Osteoarthritis of the Hand
Hand pain, aching, or
stiffness and
3 or 4 of the following
features:
- Hard tissue enlargement
of 2 or more of 10 selected joints
- Hard tissue enlargement
of 2 or more DIP joints
- Fewer than 3 swollen
MCP joints
- Deformity of at least
1 of 10 selected joints
* The
10 selected joints are the second and third distal interphalangeal (DIP), the
second and third proximal interphalangeal, and the first carpometacarpal joints
of both hands. This classification method yields a sensitivity of 94% and a
specificity of 87%. MCP = metacarpophalangeal.
Altman R, Alarcón G,
Appelrouth D, Bloch D, Borenstein D, Brandt K, et al. The American College of
Rheumatology criteria for the classification and reporting of osteoarthritis
of the hand. Arthritis Rheum 1990;33:1601---10.
