What condition is defined as a disruption in the contact between opposing bone surfaces in a joint?

The condition characterized by a disruption in the contact between opposing bone surfaces in a joint is best described as subluxation. Subluxation involves a partial dislocation of the joint, where the surface of the bones that terminate or articulate in the joint do not completely lose contact with each other. This results in some degree of misalignment but does not result in a full separation as seen in dislocation.

Dislocation, on the other hand, is a more severe condition where there is a complete loss of contact between the surfaces of the bone in a joint. While this may sound similar, it exceeds the threshold of simply being a partial displacement, which is what subluxation entails. Fractures refer to a break in the bone itself rather than a relationship between the bones at a joint, and osteoarthritis is a joint disease characterized by the degradation of cartilage and bone but does not imply a change in joint alignment. Thus, subluxation accurately describes the condition in which there is a partial disruption in the joint structure without total separation.