Osteophyte

A bony outgrowth at the margin of a joint, formed in osteoarthritis. At the distal interphalangeal joint osteophytes form Heberden nodes and are thought to drive the formation of mucous cysts; they are commonly trimmed with a rongeur when a mucous cyst is excised.

Related terms

• Condition

  Heberden node

  A firm bony swelling at the back of a finger's end (distal interphalangeal) joint, formed by osteophytes in osteoarthritis of that joint. A mucous cyst often arises beside one, and the osteophytes are commonly trimmed when the cyst is excised.

• Condition

  Mucous cyst

  A ganglion of the distal interphalangeal joint, lying on the back of the finger between the end joint and the nail fold. It is associated with osteoarthritis of the joint and its osteophytes (Heberden nodes), can groove the nail by pressing on the nail matrix, and recurs least often when the joint is debrided at the time the cyst is excised.

Articles mentioning this term

1. Patient information · 11 October 2026

   Finger osteoarthritis: Heberden and Bouchard nodes

   Finger osteoarthritis: symptoms, diagnosis, signs of another cause, hand therapy, splints, medicines, steroid injections and when surgery may be discussed.

2. Patient information · 11 October 2026

   Knuckle joint arthritis

   Knuckle (MCP) joint pain and swelling: causes beyond osteoarthritis, tests, warning signs, non-surgical care and joint replacement.

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