What symptoms are associated with knee osteophytes?

The most common symptom of knee osteophyte (bone spur) formation is pain. In the early stage, the pain is typically mild and intermittent, often improving with rest. However, if treatment is delayed, the pain becomes progressively more pronounced as the condition advances. Patients commonly experience significant pain when climbing or descending stairs or squatting; in advanced cases, pain may even occur during walking on level ground or at night. Additional symptoms may include joint swelling, restricted joint mobility, and joint deformity.