Deforming arthrosis- a disease involving degenerative changes (wear and tear) in the cartilage that covers the joint surfaces of the bones and ensures the free movement of the limbs.
This is one of the most common pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (the incidence of the adult population in different regions of the Earth ranges from 13 to 29%). Deforming arthrosis (gonarthrosis) of the knee joint is in second place in the frequency of development, after deforming arthrosis of the hip joint.
Causes of knee arthrosis
The mechanism for the development of knee osteoarthritis is still not fully understood. However, 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 causes of deforming knee arthrosis, which cause accelerated cartilage wear, are as follows:
- obesity (more than 66% of gonarthrosis patients are overweight);
- musculoskeletal pathologies, increased joint load (scoliosis, osteochondrosis, flat legs, systemic diseases of the joints, etc. );
- increased physical activity, including sports.
In addition, the progression of gonarthrosis is facilitated by pathologies that disrupt cartilage tissue metabolism (endocrine diseases, gout) and circulatory diseases (varicose veins of the lower extremities, atherosclerosis of the arteries of the legs, diabetic angiopathy). Timely and appropriate therapy for these diseases preserves limb function for a long time.
Another common cause of gonarthrosis is knee injury. In such cases, the pathology progresses at an unusually rapid rate. Therefore, it is advisable to examine all patients with knee injuries in a timely manner and, if necessary, perform arthroscopy of the knee joint to eliminate intraarticular injuries.
When to see a traumatologist
An orthopedic traumatologist should be called immediately after the onset of the following symptoms of knee arthrosis:
- knee pain is the most persistent symptom;
- crackling when moving;
- morning stiffness - usually combined with a kind of "starting pain" and disappears after 30 minutes of exercise;
- joint dysfunction - slackness or, conversely, abnormal stiffness, lameness, etc.
Experienced orthopedic traumatologists at the MC are given an appointment who, after a thorough diagnosis, select the optimal way to treat the knee joint: surgery or conservative therapy, depending on the situation.