Osteoarthritis of the knee

All of the synovial joints are affected by degenerative-dystrophic diseases of arthritis, some more, some less. The most commonly affect the knee are osteoarthritis of the hip in the joints, since both are subjected to a large load in the knee joint – in the even of an injury. If it is arthritis-localized-knee, diagnosed gonarthrosis (osteoarthritis deformans in the knee joint). Osteoarthritis of the knee – a disease that often leads to temporary disability, the persons with disabilities. What is osteoarthritis of the knee joint, due to some of the developed in it the manifestation of the disease, how to treat it – the topic of this article.

A bit of the terminology

Osteoarthritis – non-inflammatory articular disease that is triggered by the degenerative processes of the articular cartilage, then the search process includes a joint area of the partner to the bone, the synovium, the muscles that support the joint. The other name of the condition is osteoarthritis, that means that the pathological processes occurring in bone tissue.

Improve the localization of the disease to add the name to the name on the following: osteoarthritis of the knee osteoarthritis of the ankle. Because of the late of a regional expansion of the stage to the side of the rear-end lead made of a serious deformation of the body, osteoarthritis of the knee joint, other articular joints shall be appointed by the deforming, short DOÂ. The diagnosis of DOÂ it means the same thing as osteoarthritis.

What is the what by osteoarthritis called him? Often on the Internet, you'll be able to find a sentence of gonarthrosis of the knee, osteoarthritis of the hip joint. If the first one is the definition of a tautology, the other is a mixture of the names of the joint of the two different diseases. The fact is that, for convenience, characterize the most common types of arthritis use of the name, which refers to a server in the cloud. So, the first part of the word "gonarthrosis" dates back to the ancient Greek word meaning "knee". That is, gonarthrosis osteoarthritis of the knee is a, it can also be used as the name of the DOÂ in the knee joint, the knee joint osteoarthritis. However, the name of the knee, gonarthrosis in a similar way too.

Anatomy of the knee

In the literature, can be found on the references of osteoarthritis of the femoro-patellar joint, or patellofemoral syndrome. In order to understand what it is that you need to become familiar with the anatomy of the knee joint. That is, the total condylar:

• the articular surface of the femur convex's head;
• the tibia is a hollow.

In addition to the large bone in the formation of the knee joint is involved, the small sesamoid bone, known as the or the kneecap patella. The rear surface of the upper edge articulates with the femur. Patella in Latin it is called patella femoral in bone – femara. That is, if it is translated into a word of the Russian femoropatellar, you will get the femoro-patellar. It does not stand alone in common in both is an integral part of the complex knee joint. Holds the patella in the correct position, the ligaments, but sometimes, you may damage the beginning of it, or a configuration that leads to the instability.

The move, the instability of the patella – the main factors that lead a make the a t the development. I am. patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The causes include traumatic injury to the cartilage within the patella, on the shock, falling down. The experts, who tend to use the term patellofemoral pain syndrome, as a vehicle for the development of the clinical picture of the pathology that they know what to do, from the classical, typical for osteoarthritis. The diseases treatable because of the thinning of the cartilage (chondromalacia, a) there is only 3 stages, the prognosis was very unfavourable. However, the corresponding absence of treatment, the disease comes in gonarthrosis.

The cause of the disease

What is the what is osteoarthritis of the knee is caused by a the cause? The one we have already mentioned – damage to the instability of the patella, which is running in patellofemoral syndrome, the doctors refer to them often as pietros).

The causes of osteoarthritis of the knee include the following:

• the congenital weakness of the muscles of the ligaments that stabilizes the knee joint;
• vascular disease of the lower extremities (varicose of the time, thrombophlebitis), which is disrupted by the flow of blood, not to the knee;
• long-term inflammatory processes in the joint cavity into the periarticular tissues;
• endocrine diseases, especially diabetes;
• injuries of the lower extremities.

Arthrosis of the knee, at risk, people with a diagnosis of DOÂ the ankle, the hip, the flat of the foot. With the defeat of the ankle or the hip joints, a violation of the support function of the foot, increasing the burden on the knee. With age, the incidence of arthrosis of the knee joints increases. It is due to the slowing down of metabolic processes in the regeneration process of the cerebral blood circulation disturbances, of natural wear and tear of the cartilage, changes in the hormonal levels.

Gonarthrosis at a young age it often develops in people with a genetic predisposition, a genetic defect of connective tissues. He is also prone to the athletes in the people who carry out the heavy work of a physical load on the legs. Very damaging to the knee joints of the weight.

The symptoms of this

If you have a need for arthritis of any of the symptoms, and gradually increase the localization of the phase in the stage. 1 stages of osteoarthritis, the patient experiences discomfort:

• the legs get tired quickly;
• at the beginning of the movement there is a brief pain, the feeling of tightness, stiffness, but about half of the time, these symptoms;
• the pain can be resumed after a long load, but goes away on vacation.

2, the phase of the sufficiently low load to cause pain may require a longer stay, as it has been. Because of this, the degree is often the inflamed synovium mechanical types merge to pain that occurs at rest. The increase in the characterized by a synovitis of the knee due to the accumulation of inflammatory effusion in the joint cavity, the skin often becomes red, hot to the touch.

If the beginning of a contractures (limited joint mobility), as related to pain, especially during movement, which is in line condition, as the progresses, the knee articulation, contractures become resistant. Growing osteophytes, to prevent the movement, which has become short in that they lose their elasticity of the ligaments, weak muscles, and decrease the production of intra-joint lubrication – synovial fluid. Phase 3, the range of motion is greatly reduced, and some patients can only perform a rocking motion in the knee joint. Ultimately, then, the total deformed due to bone growths, legs bent at the knee (X-shaped or O-shaped deformation).

What is the what is osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms, and that you know what to do from patellofemoral syndrome? For the last feature:

• the pain is localized in the anterior aspect of the knee, with, usually, when Single, thus getting stronger and stronger during squats, you lift at stol, walking up and down stairs;
• swelling in the region of the patella;
• hobbling walk;
• between the clicks, the movements, the clicks of the pain does not occur at the same time.

The swelling of the knee, gait changes, the pain is characteristic of osteoarthritis, but the pain is felt deep in the joint, it often suffers from its inner side. The movement is often accompanied by pain crepitus. The exact localization Of the determination process, the necessary functional tests of the x-rays.

The diagnostic methods of the

The diagnosis of DOÂ is to be made through the comprehensive the main the patient's. First, the doctor listens to the complaints, that is, the study of the history, examines your feet, palpated the joints, perform passive movements within the ask the patient to perform active range. Gonarthrosis is one sided. The unilateral damage of a healthy body depending on the patient. The assessment of range of motion, muscle strength, measure the circumference of the thighs, the shins, the feet of the length. Because of the osteoarthritis accompanied by atrophy of the muscles of the legs of the bond affected, reduce the volume of the to reduce.

After the body of main in the laboratory set of the hardware:

• the main method of diagnosing osteoarthritis – x-ray photograph is taken of at least 2 of the projection;
• CT scan – a type of x-ray is the main, which gives a multi-dimensional image of the joint;
• assess the condition of the cartilage, soft tissue, the volume of synovial fluid provides an ultrasound;
• a highly informative method of diagnosis – MRI;
• the text is assigned to distinguish osteoarthritis arthritis-other inflammatory diseases.

The diagnosis in the determination of the extent of osteoarthritis in knee joints based on x-ray data.

1. Small, usually irregular narrowing of the joint space, osteophytes, initial in the form of tiny cusps at the edges of the joint on the side.
2. The final narrowing of the lumen of 50% or more of a number of large osteophytes, compaction of bone tissue (osteosclerosis) in the places of greatest load. On the background of foci of osteosclerosis may be observed of the enlightenment – testopodobnymi the cavity.
3. The almost complete absence of the joint-gap, a pronounced osteosclerosis, osteophytes larger, the deformation of the articular surface of the bone, smoothing his pain, and the curvature of the axis of the limb.

The treatment of

The next question is: what is the knee arthrosis followed the how to on them? The treatment of the disease is diverse in that it is very important to take a holistic and integrated approach, please refer to the combination of the free drugs, the treatment with the medicine. The treatment has to be started by limiting the load on the knee. Therefore, it is necessary to reject the iz, running, jumping, lifting of patients who are overweight, you should lose weight.

One of the muscles of the poor a sedentary way of living, you will need to move over, but don't overload the knees are not. The shoes should be comfortable when walking, it is recommended that you use a cane, orthopedist pick up the knee orthosis to the other apparatus for the discharge in the stabilization of the joint. Definitely need to stick to a diet.

Medicine

How to treat a arthritis when accompanied by pain? Most commonly, thus to be cut, which use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such given orally in to be used in the form of ointments, gels. In addition to that prescribed by the irritating ointment. During the intense inflammatory process, may be recorded in the joint an injection of hormonal drugs in combination with a local anesthetic. However, this treatment only relieves the symptoms, it is out of the short rates, according to the testimony.

On the 1-2 stages of the symptomatic treatment of urgency, it needs to be combined with a long-term review chondroprotectors. These drugs help slow the breakdown of cartilage in the early stage, and even to contribute to their recovery. To completely relieve the pain, in the recovery of mobility of the intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid.

Drugs in osteoarthritis can be managed well by medication in the vasodilators to improve the microcirculation is shown in diseases of the circulatory system of the joint. The relief of muscle spasms, For the aid of muscle relaxants. A specific tool for the treatment of arthritis along with cartilage ear protection is a medication that neutralizes the activity of the protein, which destroys the cartilage.

Non-drug treatment

Osteoarthritis of the knee for those in treatment for drug dependence. The methods of non pharmacological treatments include the following:

• physiotherapy electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, ultraviolet and visible radiation, in other
• the use of slack wax, ozokerite;
• compresses with Dimexidum, medical, bile, bischofite;
• massage, the impact is not primarily on the joint itself, the surrounding muscles;
• manual therapy – the mild stretching of, or a reduction in the total;
• Physical therapy, therapeutic exercise. The master of the exercises in this training video, the description of complexes with a photo, but it is much better to start the exercise program under the supervision of an instructor.

In some of the clinics tested an innovative method in the treatment – stem cell therapy. If it allows you to restore the cartilage tissue without resorting to surgery.

1, the stage of gonarthrosis are shown on a conservative treatment that begins with a 2, you can carry out the operation. Most surgery in advanced osteoarthritis:

• arthroscopic debridment of the removal of the osteophytes in the necrotic areas of cartilage through a small incision;
• arthroscopic chondroplasty – fix the joint cartilage;
• arthroplasty – a joint replacement the artificial.

The first two operations are usually carried out in 2 stages to provide a temporary effect for 1-2 years. In the endoprosthesis are shown in a 3 stages of osteoarthritis of the knee, it is the only way to avoid a disability. Implants only in the last few years, 15-20, before the required re-operation.

Or, Gonarthrosis arthrosis of the knee joints is among the three most common types of arthritis. Pain to the point of you knee, not only for the development of osteoarthritis, however, the damage to the ligaments or meniscus, arthritis of the large number of other diseases. Thus, the appearance of the symptoms of anxiety, you need to consult with your doctor in the se test.

Often, osteoarthritis of the knee, progressing slowly from the first to the symptoms rather than a complete loss of the joint function, it may take a couple of decades. To completely cure gonarthrosis is impossible, however, to start treatment at an early stage, it is more likely that it will slow down the development of the delay of the last stage, which is the water make of a disability.