A disease such as gonarthrosis of the knee joint without proper treatment can lead to disability in a person. This is due to a violation of the motor function of the joint and the leg as a whole. To prevent this, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible if symptoms of the disease appear.
What is this disease
Gonarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the knee joint. This is one of the subtypes of joint pathology, localized in one or both knees. This pathology is a degenerative-dystrophic process. This means that in the joint there is a destruction of cartilage tissue with a gradual involvement in the pathological process of bone tissue.
Why and how it develops
What is knee osteoarthritis? This is a violation of all functions of the knee, which occurs due to pathological changes in the cartilage tissue. This disease occurs in middle-aged people - that is, after 40-45 years (primarily). However, there are also cases of illness in younger patients - often it is a post-traumatic (secondary) gonarthrosis.
Bilateral gonarthrosis of the knee joints is the most common pathology in the elderly. This is because these joints are subjected to a lot of daily stress. As a result, the cartilage gradually begins to wear out and loses its physiological properties.
This disease refers to polyetiological. What does that mean? Such diseases develop under the influence of several factors at once. What can gonarthrosis - a disease of the knee joint - directly cause?
Table. Causes and mechanisms of pathology development:
| because | What's up |
|---|---|
| The mechanical factor is paramount. | Degenerative changes begin, which occur due to daily microtraumas or some kind of serious injury. This destroys cartilage in different parts of the cartilage. |
| Violation of microcirculation. | The deterioration of the nutrition of the cartilage tissue leads to loss of elasticity and shrinkage. |
| Metabolic disorders in cartilage tissue. | The amount of the main components of cartilage - glucosamine and chondroitin - decreases. |
| Changes in the structure of synovial fluid. | Its lubricating function is lost, the cartilage rubs against the bone and breaks down. |
All this together leads to the development of joint pathology.
main manifestations
What are the main symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joint?
The main distinguishing feature from arthritis is the gradual, slow development of symptoms:
- The first manifestation of osteoarthritis is pain. At first, the patient feels the pain only after a long load - a long walk. In a calm state, the pain quickly disappears. The progression of the disease leads to an earlier and earlier perception of pain. In the final stages, the patient cannot even stand.
- Another characteristic symptom is the onset of pain. What is that? This is the pain that occurs at the very beginning of the movement. At the first stage, such pains appear in the morning after getting up. They then appear at the beginning of each sentence.
- The counter-symptom is night pain. It develops during sleep due to pressure in the bones. Such sensations pass when walking.
- In the second stage, reactive synovitis usually develops. This is inflammation of the joint sac that occurs due to the destruction of cartilage. What does the knee joint look like in gonarthrosis and synovitis? The knee swells, the skin feels hot. Sometimes the patella protrudes.
- The next typical symptom is crepitus. This term is called a crunch, which can be heard at a distance when there is movement in the joint. It's almost inaudible at first, but gets quite loud in the later stages. It can be heard throughout the movement.
- At the last stage, a deformity of the knee joint is formed. This is due to the involvement of the bone structures of the joint in the pathological process. Growths appear on the bones, deforming the knee - this is already arthrosis. This creates an axial displacement of the bones, the leg shortens and the knee turns to the side (photo).
A complication of gonarthrosis is the development of contractures. This is a complete stop of movement in the joint due to bone fusion or muscle compaction. As a result, muscular dystrophy develops - due to the low volume of movement.
diagnostic methods
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the knee is made on the basis of several facts:
- Anamnesis of the disease - how the symptoms developed, the dynamics of the patient's complaints;
- characteristic symptoms;
- X-ray examination.
With gonarthrosis, an X-ray is taken in three projections.
Arthrosis is characterized by the following changes:
- a decrease in the lumen of the joint space is the very first sign of the disease, in the third stage the gap is practically absent;
- in the second stage, osteophytes can be detected;
- subchondral sclerosis is also a specific sign, which consists in the densification of the ends of the bones adjacent to the cartilage.
If the diagnosis is in doubt, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is done. The doctor evaluates the results and sets one or another degree of gonarthrosis. The specialist in the video in this article will tell you more about diagnostic methods and results.
types of treatment
Osteoarthritis of the knee requires comprehensive treatment. The combination of different approaches can significantly slow down the process of cartilage degradation.
Conservative therapy can be performed on an outpatient basis. If surgical treatment is required, the patient is admitted to a hospital where a medical history is taken. It documents the course and result of the operation.
diet
First of all, the patient is prescribed a specific diet. With the help of food, you can improve the condition of cartilage tissue. And the rejection of certain products restores blood circulation in the joint area.
What is recommended to include in the diet of patients with gonarthrosis:
- First of all, these are products that contain a lot of protein and collagen. These include sea fish, meat, jelly. They must be consumed daily.
- Products containing fiber. These are fruits and vegetables. Also recommended for everyday use.
Fatty meat and fish, pastries, sweets, alcoholic and carbonated drinks should be excluded from the diet. This not only improves blood circulation, but also allows you to get rid of excess weight.
medication
The basis of conservative treatment is taking medication. The action of drugs is aimed at eliminating the pathological process and the symptoms that it manifests.
All medicines can be bought at the pharmacy. The price for this is quite high, but the drugs need to be taken for a long time.
Medicines are prescribed by a specialist, self-medication is unacceptable.
physical therapy
In all stages of arthrosis, the use of physiotherapeutic procedures is indicated. They are aimed at relieving pain, restoring blood circulation in the joint area and slowing down dystrophic processes.
The most commonly used methods are:
- ultra high frequencies;
- magnetotherapy;
- ozone therapy;
- Baths - radon, hydrogen sulfide.
Such treatment is carried out in a clinic or in sanatoriums.
physical therapy
First, measures to relieve the affected knee are prescribed to the patient. This is accomplished through the use of a walking stick and compression stockings and bandages. With severe pain syndrome, immobilization of the knee for several days is required.
When the condition improves, therapeutic exercises are prescribed. It is first carried out under the guidance of a specialist in physical therapy, then you can do gymnastics at home.
surgical treatment
Gonarthrosis is the most common pathology that requires surgical intervention.
Depending on the condition of the joint and the degree of its destruction, different types of operations are used:
- denervation. Such an operation is used quite rarely - mainly in elderly patients with severe pain. The essence of the procedure is to cut the nerve leading to the joint. The effect of such an intervention lasts for several years.
- intraosseous decompression. It is most often performed with gonarthrosis. Its essence is to reduce the load on the diseased joint. The spongy substance of the bone adjacent to the cartilage is destroyed by drilling.
- osteotomy. It also aims to reduce the stress on the joint. The effect is achieved by preparing the bone directly at the joint head.
- endoprosthetics. It is used for the complete destruction of cartilage tissue. The hinge is replaced with a metal one.
Restorative therapy is required after any type of surgery. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint can make a person disabled - in the absence of timely diagnosis and proper treatment.