Bouchard's osteoarthritis refers to osteoarthritis of the middle finger joints (proximal interphalangeal joints, PIP). It belongs to the group of finger polyarthroses and frequently occurs together with Heberden's osteoarthritis of the end finger joints.
Typical signs are firm, nodular thickenings at the PIP joints (Bouchard's nodes), restricted movement and, in inflammatory phases, painful swelling with redness. Women are more frequently affected, and there is a familial predisposition. The diagnosis is made clinically and supported by X-ray examination.