A disease such as gonarthrosis of the knee joint, without proper treatment, can lead to disability. This is due to the violation of the motor function of the joint and the leg as a whole. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible when the symptoms of the disease appear.
What is this disease?
Gonarthrosis is an arthrosis 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 cartilage tissue is destroyed in the joint with gradual involvement in the pathological process of bone tissue.
Why and how they developed
What is knee gonarthrosis? This is a violation of all knee functions, which occurs due to pathological changes in cartilage tissue. This disease occurs in middle-aged people - that is, after 40-45 years (primary). However, there are cases of the disease in younger patients as well - it is often 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 exposed to a large daily load. As a result, cartilage begins to gradually wear out and lose its physiological properties.
This disease is related to polyetiology. What it means? 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 pathology development:
> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" >All this together leads to the development of joint pathology.
The main manifestations
What are the main symptoms of gonarthrosis of the knee joint?
The main feature of arthritis is the gradual, slow development of symptoms:
- The first manifestation of osteoarthritis is pain. Initially, the patient feels pain only after a long load - long walks. At rest, the pain disappears quickly. The progression of the disease leads to an earlier feeling of pain. In the final stages, the patient cannot even stand.
- Another characteristic symptom is the initial pain. What is it? It is a pain that occurs at the very beginning of the movement. In the first phase, such pains appear in the morning, after getting out of bed. Then they appear at the beginning of each movement.
- The opposite symptom is night pain. It develops during sleep due to pressure inside the bones. Such feelings pass while walking.
- In the second stage, reactive synovitis usually develops. This is an inflammation of the joint sac caused by the destruction of cartilage. What does the knee joint look like in gonarthrosis and synovitis? The knee becomes swollen, the skin is hot to the touch. Sometimes there is a protrusion of the patella.
- The next typical symptom is crepitus. This expression is called a crunch that is heard at a distance when moving in the wrist. At first it is almost inaudible, but in later stages it becomes quite loud. It is heard throughout the movement.
- In the last stage, a deformity of the knee joint is formed. This is due to the inclusion of bone structures of the joint in the pathological process. Bumps that deform the knee appear on the bones - this is already deforming arthrosis. As a result, 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 movement in the joint due to the joining of bones or the contraction of muscles. As a result, muscular dystrophy develops - due to the small volume of movement.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis of gonarthrosis is based on several facts:
- anamnesis of the disease - how the symptoms developed, the dynamics of the patient's complaints;
- characteristic symptoms;
- X-ray study.
In gonarthrosis, an X-ray is taken in three projections.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the following changes:
- reduction of the lumen of the joint space is the 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 along the cartilage.
If the diagnosis is questionable, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is performed. The doctor evaluates the results and sets one or the other degree of gonarthrosis. The video expert in this article will tell you more about diagnostic methods and results.
Types of treatment
Gonarthrosis needs to be treated comprehensively. A combination of different approaches can significantly slow down the process of cartilage degeneration.
Conservative therapy can be performed on an outpatient basis. If surgical treatment is required, the patient is admitted to the hospital where a medical history is taken. Records the course and results of the operation.
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 rejecting certain 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 that contain a lot of protein and collagen. These include sea fish, meat, jelly. They need to be consumed daily.
- Fiber products. These are fruits and vegetables. It is also recommended for everyday use.
Fatty meat and fish, pastries, sweets, alcoholic and carbonated beverages should be excluded from the diet. This not only improves blood circulation, but also allows you to remove excess weight.
Medications
The basis of conservative treatment is taking medication. The action of drugs is aimed at eliminating the pathological process and the symptoms that are manifested.
All medicines can be bought at the pharmacy. The price for them is quite high, but the drugs have to be taken for a long time.
Medicines are prescribed by a professional, self-medication is unacceptable.
Physiotherapy
The use of physiotherapy procedures is indicated in all stages of arthrosis. They are aimed at reducing pain, restoring blood circulation in the joints 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 sanatorium.
Physiotherapy
Initially, the patient is prescribed measures to reduce the load on the affected knee. This is achieved by using sticks and compression stockings and bandages. In severe pain syndrome, knee immobilization is required for several days.
As the condition improves, therapeutic exercises are prescribed. It is first performed under the guidance of an exercise therapy specialist, and 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 surgery is used quite rarely - mostly in elderly patients with severe pain. The essence of the intervention is to cut the nerve that leads to the joint. The effect of such an intervention lasts for several years.
- intraosseous decompression. It is most often performed in gonarthrosis. Its essence is to reduce the load on the diseased joint. The spongy substance of the bone that is next to the cartilage is destroyed by drilling.
- Osteotomy. It also aims to reduce the load on the joint. The effect is achieved by dissecting the bone directly on the joint head.
- Endoprosthetics. It is used to completely destroy cartilage tissue. The joint was replaced with metal.
Restorative therapy is required after each type of surgery. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint can make a person disabled - in the absence of timely diagnosis and proper treatment.