Osteoarthritis of the knee joint of the 1st degree is the initial stage of the disease, which is asymptomatic or with mild symptoms..

With gonarthrosis, there is a gradual destruction of the articular cartilage. Gonarthrosis is a lesion of the articular cartilage and its surrounding tissues, leading to degenerative-dystrophic changes.. Accompanied by severe pain syndrome, limitation of motor activity, bone deformities.

The knee joint, taking on and distributing the load, maintains balance while standing, while walking, and also provides movement of the limb in several planes..

Gonarthrosis can be primary or secondary, affecting the joint of the right or left leg, or both joints..

EpidemiologyAccording to epidemiological studies, deforming osteoarthritis (DOA) affects from 8 to 20% of the adult population, while the most common localization of the pathological process, which is accompanied by temporary disability, is the knee joint..

Most often, the pathology occurs in the older age group In older people, the incidence of DOA increases. According to some data, symptomatic gonarthrosis is observed in 5% of people over 26 years old, in the age group over 70 years old - in 11%. Regardless of age, pathology is diagnosed in women 1.2–1.4 times more often than in men..

The disease can progress over several years or decades and lead to disability - patients with osteoarthritis make up about one third of all people with permanent disability due to joint disease.

Pathological features The knee joint is a complex anatomical structure that connects three bones: the distal femur, the proximal tibia, and the patella..

The knee joint has a complex anatomical structure. It is the largest joint in the human body, in which movements are carried out in three planes:.

sagittal: flexion and extension;

frontal: abduction and adduction;

horizontal: bent joint.

The knee is one of the few joints that contains menisci in its structure - cartilage formations that are soft pillows that limit the articular surfaces from each other.. They prevent excessive friction of the articular surfaces relative to each other and their wear..

The articulation is unique as it is the only place where the cruciform ligaments pass through the joint cavity, which hold it in a static position, preventing the displacement of structures during movement..

With gonarthrosis, there is a loss of elasticity, erasure of cartilage structures, leading to a violation of the congruence of the knee joint, the appearance of cracks on the articular surfaces, and a violation of their trophism.. As a result of this pathological process, the patient complains of pain, a characteristic crunch and clicks, then movement disorders join.

CausesGonarthrosis is considered a polyetiological disease, which is not characterized by a hereditary predisposition.

One of the possible causes of the development of the disease is a history of knee injuries. In the etiology of osteoarthritis of the knee joint, there are:.

history of joint injuries (dislocations, fractures in the knee, sports injuries);

meniscus injury;

autoimmune processes (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatism, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.).

congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system (hypermobility of the knee joint, dysplasia);

chronic specific and non-specific inflammatory processes in the joint caused by pathogens (chlamydia, tuberculosis, syphilis, staphylococcal purulent arthritis, gonorrhea).

Along with the causes of the disease, there are factors that increase the risk of knee damage.. Excess body weight is of the greatest importance, since this condition increases the load on the joint, inevitably leading to its damage..

Other risk factors are:.

dysmetabolic and dyshormonal conditions (diabetes mellitus, gout, menopause, postmenopause);

gender, age;

professional activities associated with prolonged walking or standing.

Symptoms The disease begins to develop gradually. As osteoarthritis progresses, the number and severity of symptoms increase..

Pain is the most common symptom that indicates the development of knee pathology.. Initially, pain occurs during prolonged intense physical activity and disappears after it, when the limb is at rest..

As the process worsens, the pain syndrome becomes longer and more intense, it can occur during the rest period, sometimes at night.. There are specific sounds in the knee - a crunch or clicks.

In parallel with this, movements in the affected joint are limited, morning stiffness is observed, an increase in the volume of the joint.

Diagnosis Gonarthrosis is diagnosed after a thorough examination by a family doctor and / or an orthopedic traumatologist based on the patient's complaints, life history, disease, as well as the results of laboratory and instrumental studies.

If symptoms of a pathology appear, it is necessary to consult a family doctor or an orthopedic traumatologist.

General radiological signs of DOA:.

subchondral sclerosis;

narrowing of the joint space;

osteophytes located along the edges of the articular surfaces and at the points of attachment of the ligaments;

change in the shape of the epiphyses;

cysts in the epiphyses.

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