Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is progressive. With the development of the disease, the cartilage first suffers, then bone elements take part in the destructive process. High physical activity, lack of exercise, metabolic disorders lead to the causes of problems.
As the disease progresses, there is a risk of ankylosis, which is accompanied by a decrease in the motor activity of the joint.
characteristics of the disease
Osteoarthritis 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 varying intensity.
It provokes a complete loss of motor activity and functionality. According to ICD-10, the disease is coded as follows: M17. Gonarthrosis (arthrosis of the knee joint).
Pathologies are more prone to women than men. At the same time, the risk of osteoarthritis is significantly higher in people with varicose veins and overweight. For this reason, the disease is more common in obese women over 40 years of age. Older people are also affected. In young people, osteoarthritis develops as a result of injuries that occur during physical work or sporting activities.
Osteoarthritis should 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 arthrosis
stages
Arthrosis of the knee joint has 2 main variants - primary and secondary. In the first case, the disease occurs in childhood and is caused by a violation of the development of the surfaces of the joints or ligaments.
In this situation, the joint is subjected to increased loads, which leads to degenerative changes. The secondary form of osteoarthritis is associated with injuries and other diseases.
The pathology can be unilateral or bilateral. In the first case, injuries are the cause of the disease. The bilateral form of pathology is usually the result of obesity.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops in several stages. The earlier a disease is detected, the easier it is to deal with.
The main stages of the disease include the following:
- 1 degree- At this stage, people rarely go to the doctor. You feel a slight discomfort in the right or left knee that appears after a long walk. The pain syndrome appears only after increased physical exertion or severe bending and extension of the knee. When conducting x-rays, a slight narrowing of the joint space and the appearance of bony processes in the structure of the joints can be seen. The pathology is accidentally discovered during other examinations. At this stage, conservative therapy is sufficient.
- 2 degrees- characterized by more obvious symptoms of the disease that are difficult to ignore. Pain in the knee is constantly felt. It is particularly intense in the mornings and evenings. Even in a calm state, the discomfort does not go away. A person's gait slows down, motor activity is disturbed, movements in the knee are accompanied by a crunch. There is a risk of complications associated with getting a piece of bone or cartilage into the joint cavity. This leads to an increase in pain and loss of motor activity. When palpating the knee, there is a risk of severe pain and visible deformities of the joint. Inflammatory processes often develop. In such a situation, the knee swells. On x-rays, you can see a sharp narrowing of the joint space, the presence of osteophytes and bone curvature. 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 acquires a permanent disability. The patient has constant pain in the knee, limited motor activity. With every movement, the knee crunches badly. The joint is characterized by pronounced deformation, it increases in size from fluid accumulation and almost completely loses mobility. When conducting x-rays, it is possible to see the destruction of the ligaments and menisci, the abrasion of cartilage and the enlargement of connective tissue. Partial fusion of the joints can also be observed. To solve the problem, the affected joint is replaced with an artificial one.
In most cases, patients with the second stage of osteoarthritis go to the doctor. This is typical for older people who are used to age-related changes.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The main cause of osteoarthritis is a knee injury. Damage can be due to exercise, arthritis, or other factors.
The main causes of knee osteoarthritis include:
- Inflammation of the knee - provoking factors can be arthritis, bursitis and other factors.
- Damage to the meniscus - without treatment of such a pathology, arthrosis often develops.
- Osteochondropathy of the knee.
- Physical factors - difficult sport, obesity, etc.
- Bone fractures, post-traumatic syndrome.
- Operations for meniscal lesions, arthroscopy, prolonged blocks with hormones.
- Pathologies that change the load on the knee. These include flat feet, lower back lesions, osteoarthritis. Also included in this category is hip dysplasia.
symptoms and signs
The main manifestations of the disease include:
- Pain - most often there is mechanical discomfort, which is relieved by painkillers. It can be dull, painful, sharp.
- crunching during movement.
- Limited mobility of the joints.
- Decreased motor activity.
- Weakness of the muscles of the limbs.
- An increase in local temperature in the knee area.
- Gait disturbance associated with lameness of the legs.
- violation of stability.
- Pinching the knee.
diagnosis
Before starting treatment for gonarthrosis, a thorough examination is necessary.
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 identify the pathology conduct such studies:
- Magnetic resonance imaging. With the help of the procedure, it is possible to examine the affected area by obtaining a three-dimensional image. The manipulation shows the vascular system and nerve fibers.
- radiography. The procedure allows you to identify cracks, depressions and bone processes.
What is dangerous arthrosis of the knee?
The consequences of arthrosis include inflammation of the joints, atrophic changes in muscle tissue and ligaments, and gait disorders. There is also a risk of lower extremity deformity.
In difficult situations, the disease causes complete degeneration of cartilage and deformation of bone structures. As a result, the mobility of the limb decreases and the person becomes disabled.
Prevention and prognosis
In order to avoid the occurrence of knee osteoarthritis, you must follow the following recommendations:
- eat right - the menu should contain a lot of vitamins, minerals and proteins;
- get rid of bad habits;
- normalize weight;
- play sports, walk or ride on exercise bikes, conduct medical complexes;
- Avoid injury, protect your legs with knee pads.
The pathology lends itself well to therapy, since thinning of the cartilage tissue is observed only in the third stage. The prognosis is quite favorable.
If therapy is not started on time, there is a risk of disability. Usually assigned to the group of third-degree gonarthrosis. From military service they are exempted with the development of a deforming form of the disease.
Arthrosis of the knee joint is a serious pathology that leads to negative health consequences. To cope with the problem, you need to see a doctor in a timely manner. The specialist will conduct the necessary studies and select the appropriate therapy.