The knee joint is one of the largest joints in our body. Dislocations of the lower leg are recorded quite rarely. They are observed in approximately 2% of patients (relative to other dislocations).
The structure of the knee joint is very complex. The knee is formed by the femur and tibia. From the side of the thigh, the lateral and medial condyles of the thigh, which are separated by the intercondylar fossa, participate in the formation of the knee. The medial condyle is much larger than the lateral. The cranial surfaces of the thigh form a slightly concave surface for the patella. By the way, the patella is the largest sesame-shaped bone that is embedded in the quadriceps tendon. The caudal surface of the patella is covered with cartilage. In the process of movement, the patella moves relative to the femur, and when bent, it occupies an intercondylar position.
On the shin side, the structure of the knee joint is formed by the surface of the tibia (lateral and medial condyles). It should be noted that the surface of the joint of the inner condyle is slightly concave, and the lateral one is flatter and longer. Between the condyles presented is the intercondylar eminence.
The structure of the knee joint and the incongruence of the surfaces of the joints of the tibia and femur are compensated by the presence of interarticular cartilage localized on the condyles of the tibia. The inter-articular cartilages are attached to the intercondylar eminence with their rear and front ends. On the cranial side, the transverse ligament of the knee connects the menisci. Menisci have a crescent shape, the lateral edge of which is slightly thickened and fused with the articular capsule, and the medial, directed into the articular cavity, is somewhat pointed. Meniscus ventral surface flat; dorsal - somewhat concave. Given this feature, the knee joint is divided into two parts: the lower - slit-like (meniscus-tibial), upper (meniscus-femoral). Due to their relative mobility and elasticity, menisci adapt to different positions of the knee joint, which, of course, has a positive effect on its biomechanics.
The structure of the knee joint is also different in that it has intraarticular cruciate ligaments that intersect, they reliably connect the tibia to the hip. The cranial cruciate ligament extends from the lateral condyle of the medial surface of the femur downward and medially to the inner intercondylar tubercle. The caudal cruciate ligament extends from the lateral surface of the medial condyle of the femur to the external intercondylar tubercle. Menisci together with the presented ligaments serve as a kind of shock absorber.
Arthrosis of the joints is the most common joint pathology that affects at least 20 percent of the world's population. This pathology refers to degenerative-dystrophic processes that develop in hyaline cartilage. With the development of the pathological process, the cartilage tissue is gradually destroyed, along with this, the structure of the joint is disrupted, that is, there is a restructuring and deformation of the bone. In this case, spikes are formed - osteophytes. With their formation, pain occurs in the joint, movement is limited.
Arthrosis of the joints: treatment
There are two types of treatment for joint arthrosis - conservative and surgical. With conservative treatment, therapeutic gymnastics, warm baths at bedtime, physiotherapy (UV, diadynamic currents), massage, magnetotherapy, and intraarticular oxygen therapy are prescribed. It should be noted that a conservative method of treatment is ineffective. A good result is achieved with surgery.