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 is observed in every tenth person over 55 years of age, and in every fourth of these patients it leads to disability.
Up to 80% of patients with arthrosis of the knee joints report a decrease in quality of life.
The duration of functioning of a modern knee joint endoprosthesis 10 years after surgery 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 (damage to the menisci, dislocations, fractures, hematomas, etc.).
- Frequently repeated microtraumas of the joint during sports training, with constant work “on your 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 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 joint.
Main symptoms of knee joint pain
- With grade 1 gonarthrosis - in the initial stage of the disease, periodic pain occurs in the knee joint after exercise (walking, running, standing for a long time), which goes away after rest.At this stage, there is virtually no joint deformation or mobility restrictions;
- Gradually, the pain becomes more frequent and intensifies, especially when going up and down the stairs, as well as at the beginning of walking after prolonged sitting (starting 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 moving, a crunching sensation appears in the joint. The range of movements 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, pain in the joint is bothersome even at rest, does not allow one to fall asleep, 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).
Diagnostics
- A survey and examination by an orthopedic traumatologist reveals typical signs of degenerative-dystrophic joint disease (pain on palpation, limited mobility, crepitus, deformity, effusion in the joint).
- An x-ray examination of the knee joint is performed (narrowing of the x-ray joint space, the presence of osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis is determined), and, if necessary, a computed tomography scan 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 magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joint, which reveals changes in cartilage and bone tissue, ligaments, menisci, synovial membrane, allowing 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 testing of the synovial fluid obtained during the procedure, are widely used in the diagnosis of joint diseases.
Treatment of gonarthrosis
Treatment for 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 regime - it is necessary to limit the load on the joint and ensure rest.
- Conservative drug treatment of gonarthrosis:
- 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 medications, 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 (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 one’s 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 range of motion.
Surgical
Knee arthroscopy
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 (surgeries 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 world's best manufacturers.This is a reliable way to relieve the patient of pain and restore mobility and a decent quality of life.
Nowadays, there is no point in enduring pain and inconvenience due to joint pain.Modern medical technologies make it possible to help with arthrosis of the knee joint at almost any stage.Contact your doctor and take advantage of existing options.