In the human body, the largest joint is the knee. It is no secret that when walking on the knee, the effect of all body weight is necessary. For this reason, knee injuries are often found in traumatology. A large list of diseases of the knee joint is known. Basically, they are the result of various injuries, falls, or a heavy load on the knee joint.
Quite often, complication of knee injuries manifests itself in the form of formation of fluid in the knee joint. If swelling of the joint, swelling of various degrees, as well as pain, are observed, then this is a symptom of fluid accumulation in the knee joint. Treatment in such cases includes the creation of the necessary conditions for establishing complete rest of the affected joint by means of fixation with a plaster cast. If fluid in the knee is still observed, as a rule, the surgeon removes it with a syringe under local anesthesia. In this case, the liquid may be clear, cloudy or bloody. The intensity of the pain syndrome depends on how severe the damage to the knee is.
Inflammation of the synovial membrane.
If fluid appears in the knee joint, this is a dangerous signal that the synovial membrane of the joint has become inflamed. This disease is called synovitis. Synovitis is a consequence of damage to the knee joint, and the fluid itself in the knee accumulates due to rheumatological or infectious damage to the knee. Synovitis fluid usually does not contain blood. Synovia (or fluid), and under normal conditions, is present in the joint cavity, however, with inflammatory processes of the synovial membrane, its volume increases markedly. In addition, in addition to injuries, synovitis can occur from all kinds of autoimmune processes, or if metabolic processes are disturbed in the body. Inflammation can also be secondary, in the background, for example, gonarthrosis. In this case, the patient develops reactive synovitis.
Inflammation, as a rule, has an aseptic basis, i.e. without the presence of infection. The result of such inflammation is the resulting serous effusion. But if an infection invades the processes, then in this case the fluid changes its structure, purulent formations appear, and subsequently purulent synovitis develops. Therefore, in any case, if you find signs that fluid is accumulating in the knee joint, treatment should be carried out as soon as possible.
Symptoms of synovitis.
With synovitis, symptoms are detected gradually, mainly after a few hours or even a whole day from the moment of injury. The first and obvious sign: the knee has increased markedly in volume. The accumulated fluid deforms the contours of the knee joint, while movement is difficult - this is the second symptom that can be accompanied by painlessness. But, nevertheless, pain is mainly inherent in this type of pathology. As a rule, the pain is unsharp, of moderate intensity and dull.
Treatment of synovitis.
The first stage is as follows: it is necessary to remove fluid in the knee joint. Treatment begins in the operating room, anesthesia is not required. A thin needle inserted removes fluid. After this procedure, it is necessary to introduce antibiotics into the joint cavity, even if there is no suspicion of infection. Next, you need to ensure complete rest for the sick knee. To do this, use a tight tight bandage or knee pad. After this, knee treatment is reduced to the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Diclofenac, Voltaren, etc.
During treatment, it is important to eliminate not only the fluid in the knee, but also the very reason for its appearance. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a specialist: a rheumatologist or an orthopedist.
If the cause is not eliminated, as a rule, fluid again appears in the knee joint, treatment is repeated.
Bursitis.
Injury to the knee can also give rise to another disease called bursitis, an inflammation of the bags that contain fluid intended for easy gliding of ligaments and tendons. With bursitis, redness of the knee is swollen, as well as a pronounced sharp pain with a load on the joint.
Bursitis treatment.
On a sore joint, i.e. in which fluid has accumulated in the knee, the treatment is carried out as follows: first, put a roller under the foot. Then they resort to various compresses, which lower the infiltration in the knee and gradually reduce swelling.