A disease such as gonarthrosis of the knee joint, without proper treatment, can lead to disability of a person. This is due to a violation of the motor function of the joint and the leg as a whole. To prevent this from happening, you should see a doctor as soon as possible when symptoms of the disease appear.
What is this disease
Gonarthrosis is arthritis of the knee joint. It 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 people of middle age, that is, after 40-45 years (primary). However, there are also cases of the disease in younger patients - often it is post-traumatic (secondary) gonarthrosis.
Bilateral gonarthrosis of the knee joints is the most common pathology in the elderly. This is due to the fact that these joints are subjected to a large daily load. As a result, the cartilage begins to gradually wear out and loses its physiological properties.
This disease refers to polyetiological. What does it mean? Such diseases develop under the influence of several factors at once. What can directly cause gonarthrosis - a disease of the knee joint?
Table. Causes and mechanisms of development of pathology:
| Cause | What is happening |
|---|---|
| The mechanical factor is of utmost importance. | Degenerative changes begin, occurring due to daily microtraumas or some kind of major injury. As a result, cartilage is destroyed in different parts of the cartilage. |
| Violation of microcirculation. | Deterioration of cartilage tissue nutrition leads to loss of elasticity and shrinkage. |
| Metabolic disorders in cartilaginous tissue. | There is a decrease in the amount of the main components of cartilage - glucosamine and chondroitin. |
| Changes in the structure of joint fluid. | Its lubricating function is lost, the cartilage rubs against the bone and collapses. |
All this together leads to the development of joint pathology.
Main events
What are the main symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joint?
The main distinguishing characteristic of arthritis is the gradual and slow development of symptoms:
- The first manifestation of osteoarthritis is pain. At first, pain is felt by the patient only after a long load - a long walk. In a calm state, the pain quickly disappears. The progression of the disease leads to an increasingly early sensation of pain. In the later stages, the patient cannot even stand up.
- Another characteristic symptom is the onset of pain. What it is? It is the pain that appears at the very beginning of the movement. In the first stage, such pains appear in the morning, after getting out of bed. They then appear at the beginning of each movement.
- The opposite symptom is night pain. It develops during sleep due to pressure inside the bones. Such sensations pass during walking.
- In the second stage, reactive synovitis usually develops. It is an inflammation of the articular bag due to the destruction of the cartilage. What does the knee joint look like with gonarthrosis and synovitis? The knee becomes swollen, the skin is warm to the touch. Sometimes there is a bulge in the patella.
- The next typical symptom is crackling. This term is called a cracking sound heard from a distance during movement in the joint. At first it is almost inaudible, but in later stages it becomes quite loud. We hear it 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, which deform the knee - this is already deforming arthrosis. As a result, an axial displacement of the bones develops, the leg shortens, and the knee turns to the side (photo).
A complication of gonarthrosis is the development of contractures. It is a complete cessation of motion in the joint due to bone fusion or muscle compaction. As a result, muscular dystrophy is formed - due to the low volume of movements.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis of gonarthrosis 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 study.
With gonarthrosis, an x-ray is taken in three projections.
Osteoarthritis 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, consisting of compaction of the ends of the bone adjacent to the cartilage.
If the diagnosis is uncertain, magnetic or computed resonance imaging is done. The doctor evaluates the results and defines one or another degree of gonarthrosis. The video specialist in this article will tell you more about diagnostic methods and results.
Types of treatment
It is necessary to treat knee osteoarthritis comprehensively. The combination of different approaches can significantly slow down the process of cartilage degeneration.
Conservative treatment 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 records the progress and the results of the surgery.
Diet
First of all, the patient is prescribed a certain diet. With the help of food, you can improve the condition of cartilage tissue. And the rejection of some products will restore blood circulation in the joint area.
What is recommended to include in the diet of patients with gonarthrosis:
- First of all, these are products with a lot of protein and collagen. These include sea fish, meat, jelly. They should be consumed daily.
- Products containing fibers. These are fruits and vegetables. Also recommended for daily 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.
Medications
The basis of conservative treatment is taking medications. The action of drugs is aimed at eliminating the pathological process and the symptoms that it manifests.
All medications can be purchased at the pharmacy. Their price is quite high, but the drugs need to be taken for a long time.
Medicines are prescribed by a professional, self-medication is unacceptable.
Physiotherapy
At all stages of arthrosis, the use of physiotherapy procedures is indicated. They are aimed at reducing pain, restoring blood circulation in the joint area and slowing down dystrophic processes.
The most commonly used methods are:
- ultra high frequencies;
- magnetic therapy;
- ozone therapy;
- baths - radon, hydrogen sulfide.
Such treatment is carried out in a clinic or in sanatoria.
Physiotherapy
Initially, the patient is prescribed measures to reduce the load on the affected knee. This is achieved through the use of a cane and compression stockings and bandages. With severe pain syndrome, immobilization of the knee for several days is necessary.
As the condition improves, therapeutic exercises are prescribed. It is first carried out under the guidance of a specialist in exercise therapy, then you can do gymnastics at home.
Surgical treatment
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common pathology that requires surgery.
Depending on the condition of the seal 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 intervention is to cut the nerve leading to the joint. The effect of such an intervention persists for several years.
- intraosseous decompression. It is carried out most often 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 is also aimed at reducing the load on the joint. The effect is achieved by dissecting the bone directly at the joint head.
- Stents. It is used for the complete destruction of cartilage tissue. The seal is replaced by a metal seal.
After each type of surgery, restorative therapy is required. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint can make a person disabled - in the absence of timely diagnosis and proper treatment.