Deforming gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis) – a disease of transparent knee cartilage due to inflammatory, degenerative-dystrophic process. This disease belongs to the tibial condyle and the femoral bone.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint develops slowly. The primary symptoms of this disease is pain and stiffness. This kind of arthritis such as osteoarthritis is the most common compared to the other (osteoarthritis of the phalanges, hip osteoarthritis, elbow or shoulder osteoarthritis).
This disease occurs most often in middle-age (40-45 years), mainly women. The cause of osteoarthritis young people can serve any serious injuries or heavy load (eg. athletes).
The causes of osteoarthritis of the knee
Cause deforming arthrosis of the joints can be, and usually is, on the whole circumstances and many catalytic factors, which ultimately lead to the development of the disease. In medicine, the causes of osteoarthritis are divided into:
- primary;
- secondary.
Primary osteoarthritis develops in the elderly, due to natural aging (erase) the cartilage tissues of the body together with complications. Among the complications are a problem, such as:
- hereditary pathology;
- improved stress on the joints throughout life;
- obesity (10% of cases).
Deformavit secondary osteoarthritis takes 30% of all cases of disease of the knee iuncturam. This form of osteoarthritis develops as a result of various injuries:
- damage to the meniscus;
- fracture of the tibia;
- torn ligaments;
- the bruises and pain of the patella.
Symptoms of secondary osteoarthritis appears very late – after 3-4 years, but serious injuries of the disease symptoms appear after 3-4 months.
The risk of the development of gonarthrosis includes people who, after 40 years, are beginning to engage in sports or other physical activities. Running, squats or push-ups give extra work worn joints with age. Such studies can lead to the accelerated development of degenerative and dystrophic processes in the joints.
There are cases of development of osteoarthritis on the basis of the current patient comorbidities:
- Bechterew's disease;
- rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or reactive arthritis;
- gout;
- varicose veins;
- excess weight (obesity).
Reasons for the development of deforming arthrosis directly into the knee joint are:
- regular heavy physical exertion;
- lifting weights;
- often to climb the stairs;
- professional sports;
The risk is diagnosed gonarthrosis, an increase, if the patient is found in injuries of the spine division of the bones, a variety of neurological diseases, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus (3-5%) genetic predisposition due to the weakness of the ligamentous apparatus.
Often (50-60%) development of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint due to muscle spasm anterior surface of the thigh. Such spasm is not clear, until the occurrence of pain in the knees. The disadvantages are a slight pain in the lower back, heavy legs and fatigue.
If the iliac-lumbar is straight and the thigh muscles are in constant spasm, with age, the patient should develop a "contraction" of the knees, which significantly limits the motor activity.
New discovery scientists
The Belgian orthopedic from the city of Leuven have recently found a previously unknown and definitely not explored in the set, which is localized in the human knee. This package was called the "front-side" or "antero lateral to the".
The study, which lasted 4 years, has been found in rare cases, when patients after successful surgery for torn ligaments or knee injuries, pain during exercise does not disappear, and the observed instability of the knee joint.
The study was conducted by experts of 40 patients, which can detect, that the troops, which the doctors had no information at all. As it turned out, the main function of ligaments are antero lateral to the rotational motion of the tibial bones.
When injury to the knee doctors are not even aware that is necessary for its fixation during surgery.
Classification of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint
Often the disease develops in only one knee. Because the intensity of the development of pathological processes, doctors divided into 3 degrees of osteoarthritis:
- The first degree of osteoarthritis of the knee does not cause deformavit changes, however, is characterized by recurrent pain when the load on the joint. Sometimes showing mild swelling in the joint, disappearing on their own.
- When the knee secondary symptoms of the disease increase significantly. Pain syndrome is seen when a small workout. Walking, lifting weights cause prolonged and severe pain, the patient's characteristic crunch to the knee. Probably the appearance of easy deformation of the joint and mild limitation of motion.
- Third degree deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joint is the largest disclosure of symptoms of the disease. The patient is disturbed walking, severe deformity of the joint and significant functional limitation of movements. The pain is worse, depending on weather conditions, limited joint reaches the highest point. The pain is so severe that the patient can find the position in which he fell, sleep disorders.
What can confused with osteoarthritis of the knee articulation?
There are several diseases with similar symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee:
Blockade of the knee joint and the blockade of the meniscus. This disease develops quickly. Sharp movement there is a crunch in the knee, accompanied by a sharp pain that runs for 10-15 minutes. Days later, the swelling is formed by the patella.
Different types of arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout. To distinguish these diseases osteoarthritis with the help of a blood test.
Inflammation of the tendons of the knee. This disease affects mostly women after the age of 40. The pain occurs when lifting or descending the stairs. Pain cover the internal surface of the knee, but the functionality of the joint is not limited.
Of blood vessels pain in the knee joints. It is a symmetrical involvement of the joints, which cover both knees at the same time. It occurs mostly in young generation, because of the rapid bone growth. Pain syndrome said:
- change in weather conditions;
- colds;
- during exercise.
Is defined as a nagging pain (twisting).
Symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee phase
In the first stage affects the knee joint, their appearance differs from anything healthy.
- Sometimes the area of injury you may notice mild swelling.
- In rare cases, iuncturam observed build-up of fluid, it swells, when the spherical shape.
- Synovitis develops.
- The limited functionality of the joint.
- There is a feeling of gravity.
What is the reason?
The initial stage of the development of osteoarthritis a common violation of the small intra-bone vessels and blood circulation in General, which depends on the nutrition of the transparent cartilage.
With the further development of the disease (second stage) the symptoms intensified. Pain is defined by the anterior-internal side of the articulation, and also concerned about the high load, retreating to rest and come back at the slightest movement.
When deforming arthrosis of the knee joint in the third degree is a significant deformation of the joints of the bones. They squeezed each other, cartilage is nearly destroyed, limited functionality has been improved. Syndrome the pain recedes for a moment, regardless of the tension or relaxed state, in which the joint. Flexion and extension of limbs is difficult.
The joint is severely deformed, his legs are bent at the O - or X - shaped, walking becomes unstable. Quite often patients have to walk on crutches or canes.