What is the Difference Between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s Nodes

The key difference between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes is that Heberden’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the finger joint closest to the fingernail, while Bouchard’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the middle joint of the finger.

Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes are two medical conditions that cause bony bumps on the joints of the fingers. Both Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes are signs of osteoarthritis of the hand. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage and inflammation.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Heberden’s Nodes
3. What are Bouchard’s Nodes
4. Similarities – Heberden’s and Bouchard’s Nodes
5. Heberden’s vs Bouchard’s Nodes in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Heberden’s vs Bouchard’s Nodes

What are Heberden’s Nodes?

Heberden’s nodes are small pea-sized bony bumps or growths that normally occur on the joint closest to the tip of the finger. This joint is also called a distal interphalangeal joint. Heberden’s nodes are a sign of osteoarthritis of the hand. As the cartilage breaks down, the body responds by growing a new bone at a joint. These new bone growths are known as nodes. When these new bone growths appear on the joints at the end of the finger, they are called Heberden’s nodes. The signs and symptoms of Heberden’s nodes include pain, swelling and stiffness, bumps at the ends of the fingers, loss of motion, enlarged stiffed fingers, and difficulty in performing daily tasks such as opening a bottle or fastening buttons.

Heberden’s nodes can be diagnosed through a physical examination of the hand and X-ray. Furthermore, treatment options for Heberden’s nodes include resting the hand, wearing a splint or an orthotic device, using paraffin wax or warm compresses on the hands, hand therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids injections for pain and surgery.

What are Bouchard’s Nodes?

Bouchard’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the middle joint of the finger. They are also a sign of osteoarthritis of the hand. Therefore, they develop when the cartilage of the joints breaks down as the joints become damaged, and new bone growths develop on the middle joints of the finger. Moreover, genetic defects in the cartilage also play a role in the development of Bouchard’s nodes. The signs and symptoms of this condition include knobbly finger swellings, decreased range of motion or pain that often occurs after sleeping, limited mobility, twisted or crooked fingers, swellings in the fingers, stiffness and difficulty moving fingers, weakness on fingers or hand, grinding or clicking noise in hand, and difficulty in gripping things.

Moreover, Bouchard’s nodes are diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests to look for rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, ultrasound, MRI scan, and X-ray. Furthermore, Bouchard’s nodes can be treated through physiotherapy, hot or cold packs therapy, occupational therapy, drugs (NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen), injections of steroids, topical analgesic creams or gels, strength exercises, and surgery.

What are the Similarities Between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s Nodes?

• Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes are two medical conditions that cause bony bumps on the joints of the fingers.
• Both conditions affect the hands of half of the women and 1 in 4 men by age 85.
• These conditions are predominantly present in older adults.
• These conditions are signs of osteoarthritis.
• They may have similar symptoms, such as pain, swellings in fingers or hands, difficulty in gripping things, etc.
• Both conditions are caused by new bone growths on the joints.
• Both conditions are diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They are treated with pain relievers, therapies, and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s Nodes?

Heberden’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the finger joint closest to the fingernail, while Bouchard’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the middle joint of the finger. Thus, this is the key difference between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes.

The below infographic presents the differences between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Heberden’s vs Bouchard’s Nodes

Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes are two medical conditions that cause bony bumps on the joints of the fingers. Both these conditions can be caused by new bone growths on the joints, and they are mainly present in older adults. Heberden’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the finger joint closest to the fingernail, while Bouchard’s nodes are a medical condition that causes bony bumps on the middle joint of the finger. So, this is the key difference between Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes.

Reference:

1. “What Are Heberden’s and Bouchard’s Nodes?” Hand and Wrist Institute, 28 June 2022.
2. Eustice, Carol. “Bouchard’s Nodes Causes and Treatments.” Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 26 June 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Roe-heberden” By J. Lengerke 21:37, 27. Mai 2009 (CEST) – Praxis Dr. Lengerke (CC BY-SA 3.0 de) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Osteoarthritis nodes” By MyArthritis (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr