Knee arthritisKnee arthritis is an inflammation of the knee joint that can occur as a result of a bacterial infection or a disorder of the immune system (rheumatoid arthritis). The disease develops slowly. Can become chronic if left untreated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common inflammatory rheumatic diseases and affects women significantly more often than men. The disease usually occurs in advanced age, but can also affect younger patients and even children.
Causes
As mentioned above, arthritis can be caused either by a bacterial infection of the affected joint or by a disorder of the immune system. In the latter case, one also speaks of an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the body's own cell structures because it classifies them as foreign to the body. Nonbacterial arthritis can be triggered by diseases such as psoriasis or gout. It is believed that this form of the disease may also be genetic, and therefore inheritance within the family is possible. However, the exact causes have not yet been clarified.
The infection in bacterial arthritis can be caused either by a disease and thus by the body itself or from outside, for example, by injuries, surgery or injections. In knee arthritis, the pain often occurs in episodes. during the night or in the morning hours. There is usually redness with accompanying hyperthermia and swelling of the affected joint. In some cases, pain is accompanied by a general malaise or feeling of illness and occasionally even fever. As a result, the knee feels stiff and immobile in the morning. Pain increases significantly with exertion. The swelling of the knee is caused by inflammatory changes in the synovial membrane of the joint (synovitis). These are easily palpable thickenings under the skin on the posterior side of the knee. As the disease progresses, the feeling of stiffness can lead to a considerable restriction of mobility and even to pathological changes in the joint. This is due to a shortening. Stiffening of the muscles also affected by the inflammation.
Diagnosis
If arthritis is suspected, the knee specialist will first take a blood count to determine the levels of inflammation and to detect a change in other values typical of the disease. In addition, X-rays are taken to visualize any arthritic changes that may be present in the knee joint.
Treatment
The treatment of arthritis by the orthopedist is initially aimed at containing the inflammatory activity. Drug therapy should necessarily be carried out by an internistic rheumatologist. The aim is to prevent (further) damage to the affected joint. Subsequently, suitable measures are taken in an attempt to alleviate the pain. To ensure the best possible mobility of the affected joint. It is important that the treatment is started as early as possible, so that the disease does not become chronic in advance.
In the case of bacterial arthritis in the knee, arthroscopic treatment in the form of a so-called arthroscopy is usually performed by an appropriate knee specialist. In this process, inflamed and dead tie is removed, and the joint is then treated with antibiotic irrigation. This procedure is repeated several times, if necessary. At the same time, the patients are prescribed antibiotics to be taken regularly.