Deforming arthrosis- a disease associated with degenerative changes (wear) 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 incidence of the adult population in different regions of the Earth ranges 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 arthrosis of the knee
The mechanism of development of osteoarthritis of the knee is still not fully understood. Nevertheless, the factors contributing to the development of pathology have been known for a long time. Some of them are unavoidable - this is old age, female sex, hereditary predisposition.
The reasons for the development of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, causing accelerated wear of the cartilage, include:
- obesity (more than 66% of patients with gonarthrosis 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 therapy of these diseases will help preserve the function of the limb for a long time.
Another common cause of gonarthrosis is a knee injury. In such cases, the pathology progresses at an unusually fast pace. Therefore, we advise all patients who have suffered a knee injury to be examined in a timely manner and, if necessary, to undergo arthroscopy of the knee joint to eliminate intra-articular injuries.
When to see a traumatologist
An orthopedist-traumatologist should be consulted immediately after the onset of the following symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint:
- knee pain is the most persistent symptom;
- crunch when moving;
- morning stiffness - as a rule, it is combined with a kind of "starting pain" and disappears after 30 minutes of movement;
- dysfunction of the joint - a feeling of looseness or, conversely, pathological stiffness, lameness, etc.
At the MC, experienced orthopedic traumatologists are receiving appointments, who, after a thorough diagnosis, will select the optimal method of treating the knee joint: surgery or conservative therapy, depending on the specific situation.