Orthopedic traumatologists perform expert diagnostics (radiation, laboratory), conservative therapy (drugs, intra-articular injections, PRP therapy, cellular technologies of regenerative medicine, etc.) and high-tech surgical treatment of gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint) - arthroscopy, endoprosthetics, corrective osteotomy.
Gonarthrosis occurs in one in ten people over the age of 55, and in one in four of these patients it leads to disability.
Up to 80% of patients with arthrosis of the knee joints report a deterioration in the quality of life.
The duration of functioning of the modern endoprosthesis of the knee joint 10 years after the operation is 99%, after 15 years - 95%, after 20 years - 90%.
Why does arthrosis of the knee joint occur?
- Most often, the cause of the development of the disease is injuries to the knee, especially repeated ones (damage to the meniscus, dislocations, fractures, hematomas, etc.).
- Often repeated microtraumas of the joint during sports training, with constant work "on the feet", have a similar effect.
- Excess body weight creates increased axial load and destroys the joint.
- The degenerative-dystrophic process in the joint can also occur after past inflammatory diseases (arthritis due to gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Endocrine diseases, hormonal changes (for example, menopause), metabolic disorders worsen pathological changes in the joint.
The main symptoms of pain in the knee joints
- With 1 degree gonarthrosis - in the initial stage of the disease, periodic pain appears in the knee joint after physical exertion (walking, running, long standing), which disappears after rest.At this stage, there is practically no deformation of the joint or limitations of mobility;
- Gradually, the pain becomes more frequent and intensifies, especially when going up and down stairs, as well as at the beginning of walking after prolonged sitting (starting pain);
- With gonarthrosis of the 2nd degree, the pain in the knee during exercise becomes constant, disappears only after a long rest, the patient limps when walking;
- A crunching sensation appears in the joint when moving.The range of motion in the knee joint is limited (sharp pain appears when bending "all the way");
- When examining the joint area, you may notice swelling and deformation;
- With DOA of the knee joint of the 3rd degree, which corresponds to severe gonarthrosis, the pain in the joint is unpleasant even at rest, does not allow a person to sleep, the range of movements decreases significantly, patients walk on bent legs and there is a pronounced deformation of the knee joint (O-shaped or X-shaped legs).
Diagnosis
- Examination and examination by an orthopedic traumatologist reveal typical signs of degenerative-dystrophic joint disease (pain on palpation, limited mobility, crepitation, deformation, effusion in the joint).
- An X-ray examination of the knee joint is performed (narrowing of the joint space, presence of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis is determined) and, if necessary, computer tomography of the joint.
- Ultrasound examination of the joint can detect thinning of the cartilage in 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 nuclear magnetic resonance of the knee joint, which reveals changes in cartilage and bone tissue, ligaments, menisci, synovial membrane, which allows to differentiate post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint and arthritis, tumor process.
- Diagnostic puncture and arthroscopy of the knee joint, as well as laboratory examination of the synovial fluid obtained during the procedure, are widely used in the diagnosis of joint diseases.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
The treatment of arthrosis 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 mode - it is necessary to limit the load on the joint and ensure rest.
- Conservative medical treatment of gonarthrosis:
- use of analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors;
- local use of drugs 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, hyaluronic acid-based drugs to replenish synovial fluid, etc.;
- PRP therapy - intra-articular injections of PRP (own platelet-rich plasma).
- Methods of regenerative medicine - intra-articular injections of autologous cells of the stromal-vascular fraction, cells - precursors of cartilage tissue obtained from the own adipose tissue.
- Massage, 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.
Surgically
Arthroscopy of the knee joint
In case of pronounced changes in the joint (advanced osteoarthritis, traumatic defects), orthopedic traumatologists perform surgical treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with the help of arthroscopy (operations on the meniscus, cartilage, removal of the "joint mouse", synovectomy, etc.).
Arthroplasty of the knee joint
If other methods of treatment are ineffective, we perform knee joint replacement with modern prostheses from the world's best manufacturers.It 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 suffering pain and discomfort due to joint pain.Modern medical technologies allow to help with arthrosis of the knee joint at almost any stage.Contact your doctor and take advantage of the available options.