Orthopedic traumatologists perform expert diagnostics (radiation, laboratory), conservative therapy (medications, intra-articular injections, PRP therapy, cellular technologies of regenerative medicine, etc.) and high-tech surgical treatment of gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint): arthroscopy, endoprostheses, corrective osteotomy.
Gonarthrosis is observed in one in ten people over 55 years of age and in one in a quarter of these patients it leads to disability.
Up to 80% of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joints report a decreased quality of life.
The duration of operation of a modern knee endoprosthesis 10 years after surgery is 99%, after 15 years – 95%, after 20 years – 90%.
Why does osteoarthritis of the knee joint occur?
- Most often, the cause of the development of the disease is knee injuries, especially repeated ones (damage to the menisci, dislocations, fractures, bruises, etc.).
- Joint microtraumas that are frequently repeated during sports training, with constant "standing" work, have a similar effect.
- Excess body weight creates greater axial loading and destroys the joint.
- The degenerative-dystrophic process in the joint can also occur after suffering from inflammatory diseases (gout arthritis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Endocrine diseases, hormonal changes (for example, menopause) and metabolic disorders aggravate pathological changes in the joint.
Main symptoms of pain in the knee joints.
- With gonarthrosis of the first degree: at the initial stage of the disease, periodic pain in the knee joint occurs after exercise (walking, running, long standing), which disappears after rest.At this stage, there is practically no joint deformation or mobility restrictions;
- Gradually, the pain becomes more frequent and intensifies, especially when going up and down stairs, as well as at the beginning of walking after sitting for a long time (initial pain);
- With gonarthrosis of the second degree, pain in the knee during exercise becomes constant, disappears only after a long rest, the patient limps when walking;
- When moving, a crunching sensation appears in the joint.The range of motion in the knee joint is limited (when bending "completely", sharp pain appears);
- When examining the joint area, you may notice swelling and deformation;
- In DOA of the knee joint of the third degree, which corresponds to severe gonarthrosis, the pain in the joint is bothersome even at rest, does not allow falling asleep, the range of motion decreases significantly, patients walk with bent legs, and a pronounced deformation of the knee joint occurs (O-shaped or X-shaped legs).
Diagnosis
- A survey and examination by an orthopedic traumatologist reveal typical signs of degenerative-dystrophic joint disease (pain on palpation, limited mobility, crepitus, deformity, effusion in the joint).
- A radiological examination of the knee joint is performed (radiological narrowing of the joint space, the presence of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis is determined) and, if necessary, a CT scan of the joint.
- Ultrasound examination of the joint can detect thinning of the cartilage of the joint, changes in the ligaments, muscles, soft tissues around the joint, inflammatory effusion in the joint cavity, and changes in the menisci.
- The most accurate information is provided by MRI of the knee joint, which reveals changes in the cartilage and bone tissue, ligaments, menisci and synovial membrane, which makes it possible to differentiate post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee joint and arthritis and the tumor process.
- Diagnostic puncture and arthroscopy of the knee joint, as well as laboratory tests of synovial fluid obtained during the procedure, are widely used in the diagnosis of joint diseases.
Gonarthrosis treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint depends on the stage of the disease.
conservative
In the early stages of DOA, successful complex conservative treatment is possible, aimed at relieving inflammation, restoring cartilage, eliminating pain and restoring full joint function:
- Therapeutic and protective regimen: it is necessary to limit the load on the joint and ensure rest.
- Conservative pharmacological treatment of gonarthrosis:
- use of analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors;
- local use of medications in the form of ointments, gels;
- intra-articular injection - intra-articular administration of an individually selected combination of drugs, which may include hormonal agents to quickly relieve inflammation, drugs based on hyaluronic acid to replenish synovial fluid, etc.;
- PRP therapy: intra-articular injections of PRP (platelet-rich plasma).
- Regenerative medicine methods: intra-articular injections of autologous cells of the stromal-vascular fraction, precursor cells of cartilage tissue, obtained from adipose tissue itself.
- Massages, physiotherapy, manual therapy.
- Mandatory use of therapeutic physical training with a set of exercises aimed at improving blood circulation in the joint and increasing the range of motion.
Surgical
knee arthroscopy
In case of pronounced changes in the joint (advanced osteoarthritis, traumatic defects), orthopedic traumatologists carry out surgical treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint using arthroscopy (meniscus, cartilage surgeries, removal of the "articular mouse", synovectomy, etc.).
knee arthroplasty
If other treatment methods are not effective, we perform knee replacement using modern prostheses from the best manufacturers in the world.This is a reliable way to relieve the patient's pain and restore mobility and a decent quality of life.
Nowadays, there is no point in enduring aches and pains due to joint pain.Modern medical technologies make it possible to help with osteoarthritis of the knee joint at almost any stage.Contact your doctor and take advantage of existing options.