An outgrowth of bone at the boundary of a joint. The formation of osteophytes is a characteristic feature of osteoarthritis that contributes to the deformity and restricted movement of affected joints.
n. a projection of bone, usually shaped like a rose thorn, that occurs at sites of cartilage degeneration or destruction near joints and intervertebral discs. Osteophyte formation is an X-ray sign of *osteoarthritis but is not a cause of symptoms in itself.
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