Arthritis of the knee joint is progressive. With the development of the disease, first the cartilage suffers, then the bone elements participate in the destructive process. High physical activity, physical inactivity, metabolic disorders lead to the causes of problems.
As the disease develops, there is a risk of ankylosis, which is accompanied by a decrease in the motor activity of the joint.
Characteristics of the disease
Arthropathy of the knee joint is accompanied by deformation and destruction of the cartilage. The pathology is characterized by a chronic degenerative nature and causes pain of various degrees of intensity.
It causes complete loss of motor activity and loss of functionality. According to ICD-10, the disease is coded as follows: M17. Genarthrosis (arthropathy of the knee joint).
Pathologies are more prone to women than men. At the same time, the risk of joints is much greater in people with varicose veins and overweight. That is why the disease is more common in obese women over 40 years old. The elderly are also affected. In young people, arthropathy develops as a result of injuries that occur during physical work or sports activities.
Arthropathy must be distinguished from arthritis, which is an inflammatory disease caused by disorders in the immune system. Infectious diseases also lead to the development of arthritis.
In the photo, the clinical picture of the joint
stages
Arthritis of the knee joint has 2 main varieties - primary and secondary. In the first case, the disease appears in childhood and is caused by a violation of the development of the surfaces of the joints or ligaments.
In this condition, the joint faces increased loads, which leads to degenerative changes. The secondary form of arthropathy is associated with injuries and other diseases.
The pathology can be unilateral or bilateral. In the first case, the cause of the disease is more often injuries. The bilateral form of the pathology is usually a result of obesity.
There are several stages in the development of arthropathy of the knee joint. The sooner a disease is detected, the easier it is to treat it.
The main stages of the disease include the following:
- 1 point- at this stage, people rarely go to the doctor. They feel a slight discomfort in the right or left knee, which occurs after a lot of walking. The pain syndrome occurs only after increased physical exertion or strong bending and extension of the knee. When performing an X-ray, it is possible to observe a slight narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bone processes in the joint structure. The pathology is discovered by chance during other examinations. At this stage, conservative treatment is sufficient.
- 2 points- characterized by more obvious symptoms of the disease, which are difficult to ignore. Knee pain is constantly felt. It is especially intense in the morning and evening. Even in a calm state, the discomfort does not go away. A person's gait slows down, motor activity is disturbed, knee movements are accompanied by trauma. There is a risk of complications accompanied by a piece of bone or cartilage entering the joint cavity. This causes increased pain and loss of motor activity. When palpating the knee, there is a risk of severe pain and visible deformation of the joint. Inflammatory processes often develop. In such a condition, the knee becomes swollen. When performing X-rays, you can see a pronounced narrowing of the joint space, the presence of osteophytes, the curvature of the bones. In such a situation, the patient needs complex treatment. In some cases, it is not possible to do without surgery.
- 3 degrees- represents a neglected form of pathology. At this stage, a person receives permanent disability. The patient has constant knee pain, reduced motor activity. With any movement, the knee jerks violently. The joint is characterized by severe deformation, increases in size due to the accumulation of fluid and almost completely loses mobility. When performing an X-ray, it is possible to observe the destruction of the connective apparatus and menisci, the friction of the cartilage and the increase in the size of the connective tissues. Partial fusion of the joints may also be seen. To solve the problem, the affected joint is changed to an artificial one.
In most cases, patients go to the doctor in the second stage of arthropathy. This is typical for the elderly who are used to age-related changes.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The main cause of osteoarthritis is injury to the knee. The damage may be due to exercise, arthritis or other factors.
The main causes of osteoarthritis of the knee include the following:
- Inflammation of the knee - precipitating factors can be arthritis, bursitis and other factors.
- Damage to the meniscus - in the absence of treatment of such a pathology, arthropathy often develops.
- Osteochondropathy of the knee.
- Physical factors - difficult sports, excess weight, etc.
- Bone fractures, post-traumatic syndrome.
- Operations for meniscal lesions, arthroscopy, prolonged blockades using hormones.
- Pathologies that change the load on the knee. These include flat feet, lower back injuries, joints. Hip dysplasia is also included in this category.
Symptoms and signs
The main manifestations of the disease include the following:
- Pain - most often there is a mechanical discomfort, which is relieved by painkillers. It can be dull, painful, sharp.
- Crackling when moving.
- Joint mobility disorder.
- Decreased motor activity.
- Weakness of the muscles of the limbs.
- Increase in local temperature in the knee area.
- Gait disorder, which is accompanied by lameness of the legs.
- Violation of stability.
- Knee lock.
Diagnostics
Before starting the treatment of gonoarthrosis, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination.
If you suspect gonarthrosis, you should contact an orthopedic traumatologist. The specialist examines and interviews the patient, assessing the condition of the joint and the range of motion in it.
To determine the pathology, conduct such studies:
- Magnetic resonance imaging. With the help of the procedure, it is possible to study the affected area by obtaining a three-dimensional image. Manipulation shows blood vessels and nerve fibers.
- X-ray. The procedure allows you to determine cracks, dents, bone processes.
What is dangerous knee arthropathy?
The consequences of arthropathy include joint inflammation, atrophic changes in muscle tissues and ligaments, and gait disturbances. There is also a risk of deformity of the lower limb.
In severe cases, the disease causes complete degeneration of cartilage and deformation of bone structures. As a result, the mobility of the limb is reduced and the person becomes disabled.
Prevention and prognosis
To avoid the appearance of knee joints, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- eat right - the menu should contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, proteins.
- get rid of bad habits.
- weight normalization;
- go for sports, walking or exercise bikes, perform medical complexes.
- avoid injuries, protect your legs with knee pads.
The pathology lends itself to treatment, as the thinning of cartilage tissue is observed only in the third stage. The prognosis is quite favorable.
If treatment is not started in time, there is a risk of disability. Usually the group is assigned the third degree of arthrosis. As for military service, they are exempted from it with the development of a disfiguring form of the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a serious pathology that leads to negative health consequences. To deal with the problem, you need to consult a doctor in time. The specialist will carry out the necessary studies and choose the appropriate treatment.