ABSTRACT
Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting about one in every six Americans. It is one of the two most common forms: osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. These two forms of arthritis are part of a group of more than 100 rheumatic disorders. Arthritis, regardless of the cause, typically makes joints painful, stiff, and swollen. In order to present an initial idea of how arthritis affects the joints, Figs. 1 and 2 indicate the effects of arthritis in an arthritic hip joint. In the arthritic hip joint, it is possible to see the damaged cartilage in the ball of the femur and the area of the joint in the pelvis bone.
