Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is a progressive pathology that causes dystrophy and degeneration of the joint surface and damage to cartilage until it is completely destroyed in the joint area.
Usually, osteoarthritis is found in old age and old age. In the presence of concomitant factors and diseases, it is often found in examinations, but it will not be clinically manifested.
Osteoarthropathy is the most common and common joint disease. It occurs in 70% of joint diseases.
reason
The exact cause of osteoarthrosis has not yet been elucidated, but some factors have been identified that reliably increase the likelihood of its development. First of all, these are the general aging of the body and malnutrition of tissues, changes in cartilage and joint capsules.
The factors affecting the development of osteoarthritis can be divided into:
- External-these include joint overload (for example, due to weightlifting), permanent injury, occupational effects, hypothermia of the joints,
- Internal-this is a genetic influence, excessive ligament stretching and joint laxity, female ovarian dysfunction and menopausal changes, vascular accidents, impaired blood circulation in cartilage tissue, and obesity.
As one of the symptoms, joint deformity may be accompanied by alcoholism or mucinous edema, acromegaly or hormone therapy, congenital dislocation of the hip, and Marfan syndrome (a type characterized by joint hypermobility and tubular bone elongation)Genetic diseases). Joint stiffness)
progression stage
In the development of osteoarthrosis, there are many regular successive stages that replace each other:
- Reduce the moisture content of cartilage, causing it to become thinner and dry,
- Defects and cracks are formed in the cartilage,
- The cartilage is destroyed and the joint space is sharply narrowed,
- The cartilage disappears from the edge of the bone,
- Compensatory compaction of the end of the bone, without cartilage surface,
- Joint dislocations, fractures and limb dysfunction.
Symptoms of deformed joints
First of all, the main manifestations of osteoarthropathy are
- Pain in the joints, worse after exercise or at night,
- Individual joints are affected,
- The affected joint is not symmetrical,
- At the same time, there is no common manifestation of joint damage,
- No fever
- There is no intense redness in the joints,
- The analysis has not changed.
This process usually occurs in the ankle, knee, hip, or interphalangeal joints.
If the disease progresses to the extent of cartilage destruction, joint painful blockage will occur, severe pain will occur when walking, and the legs will stop moving because of the inability to move. This is caused by fragments of cartilage or small pieces of bone (joint "mice") entering the joint cavity.
In the joint area on the phalanx, there is a nodular, very hard structure, but the joint is not very deformed, the muscle is not atrophy, and there is no rigidity (the joint does not move).
Inside the joints, when you move, you will hear a creaking sound due to the uneven surfaces rubbing against each other.
Pain and restricted mobility can cause contractures (muscle contractions), which shorten the legs or arms.
Osteoarthritis is similar to various forms of arthritis in its manifestation, and must first be distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis.
diagnosis
There is no typical standard for the diagnosis of osteoarthropathy, and it can only be recognized externally by the nodules on the phalanx of the fingers. Suspect osteoarthritis in the following cases:
- A typical joint injury,
- The long-term development of the disease over the years,
- Elderly patients.
The basis of diagnosis is X-ray data that appears even before clinical manifestations and pain syndromes appear.
The joint space becomes narrow, the joint surface becomes flat and deformed, the joint area is unstable, dislocation and subluxation, marginal bone growth, bone sclerosis (excessive increase in bone density).
As the process progresses, bone spurs and lumps will be revealed, and the joint space will become wedge-shaped.
The study was supplemented by arthroscopy, which is a blood test with no signs of inflammation.
It is necessary to study the peri-articular fluid.
Treatment of osteoarthrosis
Treatment is carried out by traumatologists and orthopedic surgeons.
The treatment of osteoarthritis depends on the degree of joint involvement in the process, as well as the duration of the disease and the presence of pain.
First, use conservative therapy.
- Reduce the pressure on the joints,
- lose weight,
- Use of metabolites-a course of intramuscular injection of aloe vera or vitreous in the course,
- The cartilage repair stimulant is used in the intramuscular injection in the course.
Complementary treatment:
- Using quinolones,
- Anti-inflammatory treatment.
If the joints are inflamed, it indicates that there are hormones in the joints.
A complex of massage, physiotherapy effects, mud therapy and thermal effects is also used. Spa treatments are very useful.
In advanced cases, surgical treatment is helpful-joint replacement. In the future, it will demonstrate joint unloading, weight loss, walking with the support of a cane or crutches, and physical therapy exercises.
forecast
Osteoarthritis that does not require treatment has a slow but steady progression. Lead to joint disability and significant dysfunction, movement disorders. Therefore, when the first signs of osteoarthritis appear, active treatment is required, which lasts for 1-2 months.