Arthritis that develops after joint injury: Is it post-traumatic arthritis or post-traumatic osteoarthritis?

Arthritis that develops after joint injury, or post-traumatic arthritis (PTA), is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to the overall burden of arthritis. PTA is in many ways ideal for the study of development of arthritis. PTA has known joint involvement and time of onset; the onset of significant arthritis is often much more rapid than nontraumatic forms of osteoarthritis. However, PTA as a disease is relatively understudied compared to rheumatoid arthritis and nontraumatic osteoarthritis. Arthritis that develops following joint injury encompasses a variety of clinical conditions, some that are similar to osteoarthritis and others that have a more distinct inflammatory phase. We believe that the terms PTA and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) are both valid in describing the clinical condition of arthritis that develops following joint injury.