Traumatic arthritis is a progressive degenerative process which occurs in joints injured by trauma and which causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and instability. It is a poorly defined clinical entity because the pathological findings are identical to those of osteoarthritis. Diagnosis is usually delayed because the clinically detectable manifestations do not appear for a year or more following injury. Treatment is far from satisfactory because fusion or prosthetic joint replacement are often the only definitive means of care and some disability always remains. Legal adjudication is difficult because of the long delay in the appearance of objective symptoms and the severity and permanence of disability which follows the onset of traumatic arthritis.

Forty-six cases were reviewed, 22 caused by automobile accidents, 16 by falls, and 8 by sports injuries. The knees, hip, and ankles were most commonly affected. Pathology, pathogenesis, and etiology are discussed and illustrative case studies presented.

The possibility of preventing injuries which result in traumatic arthritis exists through changes in automobile design, home floor coverings, and sports equipment. This approach appears most feasible and possible design changes are presented.