Deformative arthrosis- a disease associated with degenerative changes (consumption) of cartilage tissue, which covers the articular surfaces of the bones and ensures 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 varies from 13 to 29%). Deforming arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) ranks second in the frequency of development, after deforming arthrosis of the hip joint.
Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis
The mechanism of development of knee osteoarthritis is not yet fully understood. However, the factors that contribute to the development of pathology have been known for a long time. Some of them are inevitable - this is old age, female sex, hereditary predispositions.
Reasons for developing deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joints, causing accelerated cartilage wear, include:
- overweight (more than 66% of gonarthrosis patients are overweight);
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, increasing the load on the joints (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 impair 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 therapy 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 progresses at an extremely rapid rate. Therefore, we advise all patients who have suffered a knee injury to be examined in a timely manner and, if necessary, undergo arthroscopy of the knee joint to eliminate injuries within the article.
When to Visit a Traumatologist
An orthopedic-traumatologist should be consulted immediately after the onset of the following symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joints:
- knee pain is the most persistent symptom;
- chewing 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.
At MC, experienced orthopedic traumatologists are making appointments who, after a thorough diagnosis, will choose the optimal method of treating the knee joints: surgery or conservative therapy, depending on the specific situation.