Throughout life, a person is forced to one way or another to face a variety of ailments. Someone is more lucky, and he suffers only from seasonal flu. Others are forced to visit polyclinics and hospitals very often.
According to the ICD, synovitis of the knee joint is an inflammatory process of the membrane that covers the joints. With the development of this pathology, an accumulation of articular fluids occurs, which leads to unpleasant sensations and pain symptoms. As a rule, a similar problem is most often encountered by those people who experience heavy loads on their legs while moving. Let us consider in more detail the manifestations and symptoms of synovitis of the knee joint. We also try to figure out why such an ailment is found in some people.
Reasons for the appearance
If we talk about the factors that lead to this ailment, then they can be very diverse. For example, membrane inflammation can result from serious joint injury. In some cases, pathogens penetrate the cavity, which are also capable of causing synovitis of the knee joint. Sometimes in medical practice there are cases when a foreign body completely enters the joint cavity. It is impossible to list all the factors affecting the development of this pathology. In addition, this ailment has not yet been fully studied by specialists.
However, to clarify the picture, it is worth listing the most common causes of synovitis of the knee joint.
Injuries
Due to such phenomena, it often happens that the integrity of the joint capsule is impaired. Most often, weaker membrane material is damaged. Therefore, damage usually occurs precisely on the knee joint. This is also due to the fact that it always has maximum loads. The knee joint almost never rests, so in some situations it is he who becomes the “weak link”.
If we consider post-traumatic synovitis of the knee joint, then it is worth highlighting:
- Direct injury. This is the name of the damage that occurred directly on the knee joint. In this case, the patient could limit himself only to a bruise. However, if a fracture of the patella or femur occurred, then in the future this may well lead to the development of synovitis of the knee joint.
- Indirect injury. In this case, the blow does not fall on the joint itself, but slightly above or below it during rotation by the lower leg. If we are talking about indirect injury, then in this case a rupture of the articular capsule itself, dislocation, rupture of the meniscus or ligaments could occur.
As a rule, minor injuries lead to bruises. However, sometimes they are accompanied by inflammatory processes or the accumulation of a large amount of blood in the joint cavity. This phenomenon is called hemarthrosis.
Infection
In this case, we are talking about infectious synovitis of the knee joint, which can occur against the background of injuries and other phenomena. Under normal conditions, the joint capsule is in an isolated state, so pathogenic bacteria cannot enter it. However, in violation of the integrity of the tissues, there is a great risk that infections can penetrate the cavity.
If we talk about the causes of synovitis of the knee joint of an infectious type, then in this case they can cause an ailment:
- Koch's wand. In this case, we are talking about an extremely infectious tuberculosis microbacterium, which can cause the pathology of the same name. In this case, the patient is affected by lung tissue and other cavities in the body. In some situations, Koch's wand can even spread to the knee joint, thereby causing the development of the described disease.
- Staphylococcus This pyogenic bacterium is particularly dangerous, since it causes a wide variety of purulent diseases. It is noteworthy that staphylococcus is found on the mucous membranes of almost every person. If he has no problems with the protective functions of the body, then this bacterium does not appear in any way. However, with poor barrier function of the skin or due to a weakened immune system, the bacterium can provoke a wide variety of ailments. For example, its activation can lead to sinusitis, bronchitis, rhinitis and even pneumonia. If staphylococcus gets to the knee joint, then arthritis or synovitis cannot be avoided.
- Streptococcus. This variety also refers to pyogenic bacteria. With weakening of the immune system, microorganisms provoke scarlet fever, pneumonia, tonsillitis and other unpleasant ailments, including also synovitis.
Accompanying illnesses
Sometimes the cause of this ailment becomes that a person suffers from acquired or genetic ailments.
For example, synovitis of the knee joint can develop against the background of the following diseases:
- Bursitis. In this case, the pathology manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the knee capsules. Such ailments can be triggered by trauma, mechanical irritation of the joint, penetration of an infectious virus into the cavity. However, sometimes pathology develops for no apparent reason. Most often, bursitis manifests itself in the shoulder joints, however, in some cases, the disease migrates to the lower extremities of a person. It also provokes the formation of excess fluid in the cavities, causing extremely unpleasant sensations.
- Hemophilia. This ailment is hereditary. In this case, we are talking about violations that lead to poor blood coagulation. Against the background of hemophilia, hemorrhages can occur in muscles, tissues, internal organs and joints. This can happen even because of the most minor injury. For example, hemorrhage can be triggered by a simple dental procedure to remove a wisdom tooth. Sometimes such phenomena occur completely spontaneously. As a rule, men are more likely to suffer from hemophilia, while the fair sex can only be carriers of an abnormal gene.
- Gout. This pathology can develop depending on a wide variety of factors. With gout, uric acid crystals settle in various cavities, negatively affecting the condition of joints and tissues. Due to this phenomenon, inflammatory processes begin, which lead to rather severe pain symptoms. In this case, the lesions most often affect the joints of the lower extremities of a person. As a rule, the most obvious pain in gout occurs at night, when a person is resting. In this case, patients complain of swelling, redness and very severe pain syndromes.
- Gonorrhea. This viral disease is sexually transmitted and has a negative effect on the mucous membranes of the genitourinary system of men and women. As a rule, the first signs of this ailment can be noticed after a few days. Patients note that they often begin to go to the toilet "little by little". Unpleasant mucus is also secreted from the genitals. In this case, there is a burning sensation in the urethra. It is worth noting that in addition to synovitis, this pathology can also provoke infertility, so you should seek immediate treatment at the first sign of an illness.
- Syphilis. This is another infectious disease that can be obtained with unprotected intercourse. With the development of this ailment, lesions affect not only the genitals and reproductive function, but can also occur in many other body systems. For example, on internal organs, tissues, joints and muscles. In the absence of proper treatment, syphilis develops to its critical point, when it affects almost all human organs.
Increased body weight
Synovitis can also develop if a person suffers from excess weight. This is due to the fact that in such a situation enormous loads are placed on the joints of the legs, while these organs are designed for easier tasks. If a person suffers from increased body weight, then this provokes constant microtraumatism. This negatively affects the condition of the entire ligamentous and articular apparatus of the patient.
Therefore, it is recommended to determine the index of your body and develop a gentle diet that will help get rid of obesity. It is best to consult a specialist with this question. You need to understand that increased body weight can lead not only to synovitis, but also to more serious diseases of the cardiovascular apparatus.
Symptoms of synovitis of the knee
If we talk about the manifestations of pathology, then everything depends, first of all, on the causes of the appearance of this disease. With the manifestation of this ailment against the background of injuries, the first manifestations of synovitis can follow within a few days (and sometimes weeks) after a bruise. In this case, the patient may not compare the damage he received with the symptoms of this pathology.
First of all, patients pay attention to the fact that the knee joint is significantly increased in size. This is because excess fluid accumulates. In this case, pronounced angles of the knee are gradually smoothed and rounded. This is due to joint deformation. However, approximately the same symptoms are observed with hemarthrosis (when there is an accumulation of blood, and not another fluid). Distinguishing these two ailments is quite simple. With the appearance of hemarthrosis, the knee joint becomes very large, but if we are talking about synovitis, then such a strong swelling does not occur.
Another clear symptom of this ailment is that it becomes more difficult for a person to move around. Since the fluid accumulates directly from the joint bag of the knee, this leads to the fact that a person can not fully walk. In addition, during walking and during rest, fairly strong pain may occur. In this case, the pain can be both dull and more intense. It all depends on the specific diagnosis. For example, with the development of moderate synovitis of the knee joint, patients experience much less inconvenience.
If we talk about other external manifestations, then the disease does not affect the color change of the skin. Also, there is no increase in body temperature and other consequences.
However, if we are talking about purulent synovitis, then in this case the symptoms will be completely different. First of all, it is worth noting strong pain. In this case, the pain will be quite acute, throbbing. This will cause a sharp change in the skin. The knee joint will turn a bright red color. If you touch it, the skin will be hot. After some time, fluid and pus accumulate even more, which leads to skin tightening and an increase in the size of the knee. In some cases, the limb may even turn blue. In this situation, the patient is practically unable to move, and is experiencing severe pain. If you do not urgently begin treatment for synovitis of the knee joint, then this can lead to fever and general infectious poisoning of the body. Therefore, it is better not to delay this issue.
Methods of treatment and diagnosis
After going to the doctor, it will be possible to draw up a course of therapy that will help get rid of an unpleasant ailment. If we talk about the diagnosis of synovitis of the knee joint, then for this the doctor should take a little periarticular fluid. After this, the source material is sent to research, during which it is possible to identify possible infections. Also, experts check the transparency of the liquid and its composition. There is a possibility that the material contains proteins or red blood cells.
Based on the data obtained, a specialist can make a more accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment for synovitis of the knee joint. As a rule, it is a puncture and drug treatment. However, if the preparations did not give the proper result, then surgical intervention can not be dispensed with.
Puncture
This procedure is performed both for the diagnosis of the disease, and for its treatment. The principle of this procedure is that the accumulated fluid is sucked from the knee joint. At the next stage, antibiotics are introduced into the freed cavity, which are necessary in order to prevent the possible development of infection.
As a rule, anesthesia is not required for puncture. If everything went well, then the patient goes home, where he must keep the joint stationary and not overstrain the lower limbs.
Drug treatment
The doctor can develop a course of treatment based on data from puncture fluid sampling. As a rule, to combat the disease, first of all, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Among them, the most popular is Ibuprofen. If the doctor suspects a possible infection or just wants to play it safe, then in this case he prescribes antibiotics to the patient, which must be administered intramuscularly. As a rule, these include Cefotaxime and Vancomycin.
It may also be necessary to take glucocorticosteroids and drugs that can improve blood circulation microcirculation.
Surgical intervention
If a person is not the first time suffering from synovitis of the knee joint, which doctor should I contact? In the event that medication has not yielded any results, the surgeon becomes the only salvation.
In the process of surgical intervention, the specialist performs an autopsy of the affected cavity of the knee and extracts all excess material. Both the deformed meniscus and the foreign body are removed. After this, the synovial membrane is excised , and the knee joint is examined.
After surgery for synovitis of the knee joint, the patient needs to undergo a course of anti-inflammatory and hemostatic therapy. A damaged joint is restored by physiotherapeutic and physical measures. However, even after surgery, there is a chance of relapse, so do not relax.
Also, the operation is performed in the presence of chronic synovitis of the knee joint, in the event of irreversible processes. For example, if foreign compounds have formed or sclerosis of the connective tissues has developed. In this case, the intervention of the surgeon is inevitable.
Synovitis of the knee joint: treatment with folk remedies
If we talk about herbs and fees, then in this situation it is best to use comfrey tincture. It can be prepared independently at home. To do this, 1 tablespoon of grass is poured with 4 tablespoons of high-quality vodka. After this, the liquid is infused for two weeks. It is necessary to take medicine 30 drops three times a day.
Compresses and ointments will also help with synovitis of the knee joint. You can also cook them yourself. For example, you can prepare an ointment from 2 tablespoons of comfrey and the same amount of lard. This composition is sufficient to apply to the affected area.
However, it is best not to wait for the development of the disease, and timely prevent synovitis of the knee joint. To do this, follow a few recommendations.
Preventative measures
To avoid the appearance of synovitis, it is necessary to visit specialists in a timely manner and undergo a scheduled examination. In this case, you should not start any infectious ailments that occur in the body. Also, experts recommend adhering to a healthy lifestyle, which includes the rejection of bad habits and proper nutrition. Several times a week, you need to perform gymnastic exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the lower and upper limbs, as they are constantly exposed to increased loads. But do not get involved in power sports. During cycling and extreme sports, the knees must be protected. Any injuries to the extremities can lead to serious consequences.
It is also worth taking vitamin complexes and trying to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air in order to maintain the body in good shape. For any painful sensations that last too long, you should immediately consult a doctor. If we suppose the development of a purulent infection, then in this case it will be almost impossible to cope with the disease with the help of medicines or recipes of traditional medicine. Therefore, it is better not to take risks.