Orthopedic traumatologists perform expert diagnostics (radiation, laboratory), conservative therapy (drugs, intra-articular injections, PRP therapy, cell technology of regenerative medicine, etc.) and high-tech surgical treatment of gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint) - arthroscopy, correct endoprosthetics.
Gonarthrosis is observed in every tenth person over 55 years of age and in every quarter of these patients it leads to disability.
Up to 80% of patients with arthrosis of the knee joints report reduced quality of life.
The duration of operation of a 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 knee injuries, especially repeated ones (meniscus injuries, dislocations, fractures, hematomas, etc.).
- Frequently repeated microtraumas of the joint during sports training, with continuous 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 joints can also occur after suffering from inflammatory diseases (arthritis due to gout, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis).
- Endocrine diseases, hormonal changes (for example, menopause), metabolic disorders aggravate pathological changes in the joints.
The main symptoms of knee joint pain
- With grade 1 gonarthrosis - in the initial stage of the disease, periodic pain appears in the knee joint after exercise (walking, running, standing for a long time), which goes away 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 prolonged sitting (initial pain);
- With grade 2 gonarthrosis, pain in the knee during exercise becomes constant, disappears only after a long rest, the patient limps when walking;
- When you move, there is a tingling sensation in the joint.The range of motion in the knee joint is limited (when bending "all the way", sharp pain appears);
- 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 disturbing even at rest, does not allow a person to fall asleep, the range of motion is significantly reduced, patients walk on bent legs and there is a pronounced deformation of the knee joint (O-shaped or X-shaped).
Diagnosing
- A study and examination by an orthopedic traumatologist reveals typical signs of degenerative-dystrophic joint disease (pain to touch, limited mobility, crepitus, deformity, joint flow).
- An X-ray examination of the knee joint is performed (narrowing of the joint space by X-ray, the presence of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis is determined) and, if necessary, computerized tomography of the joint.
- Ultrasound examination of the joint can reveal 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 meniscus.
- The most accurate information is provided by magnetic resonance of the knee joint, which reveals changes in the cartilage and bone tissue, ligaments, menisci, synovial membrane, allowing the differentiation of post-traumatic arthrosis of the knee joint and arthritis, the tumor process.
- Diagnostic puncture and arthroscopy of the knee joint, as well as laboratory testing of synovial fluid obtained during the procedure, are widely used in the diagnosis of joint diseases.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
Treatment of knee arthrosis 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 regime - it is necessary to limit the load on the joints and ensure rest.
- Conservative treatment of gonarthrosis with drugs:
- the use of analgesics, non-steroidal 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, 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, cells - precursors of cartilage tissue, taken from someone's adipose tissue.
- Massage, physiotherapy, manual therapy.
- Mandatory use of therapeutic physical training with a set of exercises aimed at improving blood circulation in the joints and increasing the range of motion.
surgery
Arthroscopy of the knee
In case of pronounced changes in the joint (advanced osteoarthritis, traumatic defects), orthopedic traumatologists perform surgical treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint using arthroscopy (operations on the meniscus, cartilage, removal of the "joint mouse", synovectomy, etc.).
Knee arthroplasty
If other treatment methods are ineffective, 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 good quality of life.
Nowadays, there is no point in enduring pain and discomfort due to joint pain.Modern medical technologies make it possible to help arthrosis of the knee joint at almost any stage.Contact your doctor and take advantage of the existing options.