All the affects of degenerative synovial joints-dystrophic diseases – arthritis, but some more, some less. Most often affects the osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints because they are exposed to significant loads, and knee joints, and even injuries. If the arthritis is localized the knees, diagnosed as gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint deformans). Osteoarthritis of the knee – a disease that often leads to temporary disability and disability. What is osteoarthritis of the knee joint, for some reason develops and is manifested in how this disease, deal with it how – to the subject of this article.
A little terminology
Osteoarthritis – non-inflammatory joint disease, which begins to degenerative processes in the articular cartilage, the process associated with such joint region of the mating bone, the synovium, the muscles that support the joint. My middle name is osteoarthritis this disease, it indicates that the pathological processes occurring in bone tissue.
To refine the localization of the disease, I add my name my name: osteoarthritis of the knee osteoarthritis of the ankle. Because of the late stage of territorial expansion joint sites lead to deformities of the body, osteoarthritis in the knee joint and other synovial joints is called the shape, the acronym DOA. The diagnosis of DOA means the same as osteoarthritis.
What is osteoarthritis and what else he called him? Quite often on the Internet to find the phrase gonarthrosis of the knee, osteoarthritis of the hip joint. If the first definition is a tautology, the second is a mix of two different names for joint diseases. It that for convenience, we denote the most common arthritis to use the name, which refers to localization. So, the first part of the compound word "gonarthrosis" dates back to the ancient Greek word, which means "knee". That is, the gonarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the knee, can also be used to name the DOA of the knee joint, osteoarthritis of the knee. But gonarthrosis of the knee joint and the names are similar unnecessary.
The knee area
In the literature there are references also found to be possible from, osteoarthritis of the femoro-patella joint or patellofemoral syndrome. To understand what that man must get to know the area of the knee joint. This is a condylar joint:
- the articular surface of the femur on top of the convex head;
- the tibia is hollow.
In addition, a large bone formation in the knee joint contributes a small sesamoid bone known as the patella or kneecap. The back surface of the upper edge indicates the thigh bone. Patella in Latin is called the patella to the femur and the bone – femara,. On top of That, if translated into Russian femoropatellar word, by the femoro-patellar. This is not a separate and common essential part of the complex knee joint. To keep the kneecap in the correct position, the ligaments, but sometimes it moves due to injury or originally is the configuration, which leads to instability.
Displacement, instability of the patella – the main factors lead to the development of the so-called patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Reasons including traumatic injury to the cartilage of the patella blows, falling. Experts usually use the term patellofemoral pain syndrome, as the mechanism of development and clinical picture of this disease is different from the classical, typical of osteoarthritis. The disease is treatable, because the thinning of the cartilage (chondromalacia a) superfluous in 3 stages, the prognosis is quite favorable. But without proper treatment, the disease is less gonarthrosis.
The causes of the disease
What is osteoarthritis of the knee and what causes it the cause? One we have already mentioned – injuries and instability of the patella, running patellofemoral syndrome (physicians often see it in pietros).
Causes of knee osteoarthritis are:
- congenital weakness of the muscles and ligaments that stabilize the knee joint;
- vascular disease of the lower extremities (varicose veins, thrombophlebitis), resulting in disturbed blood circulation in the knee;
- prolonged inflammation of the joint cavity and periarticular tissue;
- endocrine diseases, especially diabetes;
- injuries to the lower extremities.
Osteoarthritis of the knee, threatening the people who have been diagnosed with DOA ankle, hip, flat feet. With the defeat of the ankle, hip or joints, a violation of support-increase the function of the foot load on the knees. With age the prevalence of osteoarthritis of the knee joints growth. This is due to the slow metabolism of the regeneration processes and disorders and blood circulation, natural wear of the cartilage, changes in hormonal levels.
Gonarthrosis young often develops in persons with genetic predisposition, genetic defects of the connective tissue. He is also human and prone to athletes engaged in heavy physical work load on the legs. Very harmful to the knee joints weight.
Symptoms
If you have arthritis of any localization, the symptoms gradually step by step. 1 stages of osteoarthritis, the patient experiences discomfort:
- legs get tired quickly;
- at the beginning of the children's short pain, feeling of tightness, stiffness, but about half an hour these symptoms disappear;
- the pain can be constant, the long-kun to download, but after the lost to rest.
2 stage small enough and the load causes pain, requires a longer stay, so he died. Because this step is often inflamed synovium mechanical to join the inflammatory pain that occurs at rest. For example, synovitis characterized by the increase of the knee due to the accumulation of inflammatory effusion in the joint cavity, the skin often becomes red, hot to the touch.
If early contractures (limitation of joint movement), mainly related to pain during movement, according as the disease progresses, the knee articulation, contractures become resistant. The growth of osteophytes that prevent the movements become and the shorter the lose their elasticity the ligaments, weakened muscles, reducing the production of joint lubricant – synovial fluid. 3 range of motion of the stage is decreased significantly, some patients can perform in vain rocking movement of the knee. At a later stage is a common deformed, due to bone tumors, legs bent at the knee (X-shaped or O-shaped deformation).
What is osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms and what distinguish it from patellofemoral syndrome? The last feature:
- pain that is localized in the part of the anterior knee, usually felt when Jogging, he will get stronger during the squat, lifting from the chair, walks to the stairs;
- swelling in the area of the patella;
- hobbling walk;
- clicks during the movement, the ny-ny click pain does not occur at the same time.
Swelling of the knee, gait changes, is characteristic of osteoarthritis pain, but the pain is felt deep in the joint, often suffers from its inner side. The child is accompanied by pain often and crepitus. To accurately determine the localization process, the necessary functional tests and x-rays.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis of DOA is made after a comprehensive examination of the patient. First, the doctor listens to the complaints, examines the history, examines the foot, palpated joints, perform passive movements and ask the patient to do active range. Gonarthrosis is one-sided and bilateral. Unilateral lesions of the healthy limb compared to the patient. To assess the range of motion, muscle strength, measure the circumference of the thighs and shins, leg length. Because osteoarthritis is accompanied by atrophy of muscles ligaments affects the and the leg is reduced in volume and shortened.
Medical examination After and specify laboratory equipment:
- the main method of diagnosing osteoarthritis – x-ray, the picture is taken from at least 2 projections;
- CT scan – type of x-ray examination, during which the joint to provide a layered image;
- to assess the condition of the cartilage, soft tissue, the amount of joint fluid with the help of ultrasound;
- very informative method of diagnosis – MRI;
- tests have been shown to distinguish between osteoarthritis, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.
Diagnosis and determining the extent of osteoarthritis in knee joints based on x-ray data.
- Small, usually irregular narrowing of the joint space, osteophytes in the original in the form of small sinks on the edges of the joints of the sites.
- Joint narrowing of the lumen of 50% or more, a number of large osteophytes, compaction of bone tissue (osteosclerosis) in places where there is maximum load. On the background of foci of osteosclerosis can be detected by the enlightenment – testopodobnymi cavity.
- The almost complete absence of joint gap, pronounced osteosclerosis, coarse osteophytes, deformation of the articular surfaces of the bones, smoothed the relief, the curvature of the axis of the limb.
Treatment
Next question: what is osteoarthritis of the knee and deal with it how? This disease Treatment is a versatile, very important it is a unified approach, a combination of no drugs and network tasks. Treatment should start by limiting the load on the knees. It is necessary to refuse running, jumping, lifting, patients who are overweight should lose weight.
Those whose muscles are weakened because of lack of exercise, men need to move more, but does not burden the knees. Shoes should be comfortable when walking it is advisable to use the stick, an orthopedic surgeon can also pick up the knee-orthosis-demolition and other equipment and joint stabilization. Definitely need to stick to a diet.
Medication
How to treat arthritis if it is accompanied by pain? Most often they are not limited to using-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are given to and orally used in the form of creams, gels. In addition, the amount of the irritating ointment. During intense inflammatory process can be shown, injection of the joints of the hormonal drugs combined with local anesthetics. But this is unnecessary treatment to relieve the symptoms, it has conducted short courses, according to testimony.
At the 1-2 stages of the symptomatic treatment must necessarily be combined with long-term administration of chondroprotectors. These drugs slow the breakdown of cartilage, early and even contribute to its recovery. Perfectly to relieve pain and restore mobility intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid.
Drug osteoarthritis can also give and drugs vasodilators to improve the microcirculation, and it will appear circulatory disorders of the joint. Relieve muscle spasms help muscle relaxants. Special tool for the treatment of arthritis along with cartilage pads is a drug which neutralizes the action of a protein that destroys cartilage.
Non-network tasks
Intended for osteoarthritis of the knee and non-drug treatment. Methods of non-pharmacological treatments are:
- occupational therapy-electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, and others;
- the application of paraffin, ozokerite;
- compresses Dimexidum, medical bile, bischofite;
- massage mainly on the common affect it and its surrounding muscles;
- manual therapy – stretching or mild reduction of the joint;
- Occupational therapy, therapeutic gymnastics. Management exercises for training in this video, the descriptions of the complexes, where there is a photo, but it is better to start training under the supervision of family work.
In some clinics tested an innovative method of treatment – stem cell therapy. It allows you to restore cartilage tissue without resorting to surgery.
1 stage gonarthrosis appears futile, conservative treatment, from 2 to perform the surgery. The most advanced surgery for osteoarthritis:
- arthroscopic debridment ny – ny-removal of osteophytes necrotic areas of cartilage through a small incision;
- arthroscopic chondroplasty – fix articular cartilage;
- arthroplasty – arthroplasty artificial.
The first two functions are usually implemented in 2 stages, to give temporary effect for 1-2 years. The internal prosthesis is presented in 3 stages of osteoarthritis of the knee, is the only way to avoid disability. The implant lasts in vain for 15-20 years before it requires re-introduced.
Gonarthrosis or osteoarthritis of the knee joints is one of the three most common types of arthritis. Knee pain can indicate not only the development of osteoarthritis, but the damage to the ligaments or meniscus, arthritis and many other diseases. Therefore, the appearance of anxiety symptoms men need to get to consult a doctor and tested.
Often osteoarthritis of the knee is progressing slowly, the first symptoms of a complete loss of joint function can last for a couple of decades. Completely cure gonarthrosis impossible, but if treatment is started at an early stage is likely to slow down its development and delay the final step, which leads to disability.