Deforming arthrosis- a disease associated with degenerative changes (wear and tear) of cartilage tissue, which covers the articular surfaces of the bones and provides free movement of the limbs.
This is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (the frequency of the adult population in different regions of the Earth varies from 13 to 29%). Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) ranks second in frequency of development, after deforming arthrosis of the hip joint.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the knee
The mechanism of development of osteoarthritis of the knee is not yet fully understood. Nevertheless, the factors contributing to the development of the pathology have long been known. Some of them are inevitable - it's old age, female gender, hereditary predisposition.
The reasons for the development of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, causing accelerated wear of cartilage, include:
- obesity (more than 66% of gonarthrosis patients are overweight);
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, increasing the load on the joint (scoliosis, osteochondrosis, flat feet, systemic diseases of the joints, etc. );
- increased physical activity, including sports.
In addition, the progression of gonarthrosis is facilitated by pathologies that disrupt the metabolism of cartilage tissue (endocrine diseases, gout), as well as circulatory diseases (varicose veins of the lower extremities, atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs, diabetic angiopathy). Timely and adequate treatment of these diseases will help maintain limb function for a long time.
Another common cause of gonarthrosis is a knee injury. In such cases, the pathology proceeds at an unusually fast pace. Therefore, we advise all patients who have suffered a knee injury to be promptly examined and, if necessary, undergo arthroscopy of the knee joint to remove intra-articular injuries.
When to visit a traumatologist
An orthopedic traumatologist should be consulted immediately after the onset of the following symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee:
- knee pain is the most constant symptom;
- crunch when moving;
- morning stiffness - as a rule, it is combined with a kind of "initial pain" and disappears after 30 minutes of movement;
- joint dysfunction - a feeling of looseness or, conversely, pathological stiffness, lameness, etc.
Experienced orthopedic traumatologists are appointed in MS, who after a thorough diagnosis will choose the optimal method of treatment of the knee joint: surgery or conservative therapy, depending on the specific situation.