Deforming osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is a progressive pathology that leads to dystrophy and degeneration of the joint surfaces and cartilage damage up to complete destruction in the joint area.
As a rule, deforming osteoarthritis is diagnosed in old age and in old age; in the case of accompanying factors and diseases, it is often found in examinations, but does not manifest itself clinically.
Deforming osteoarthritis is the most common and widespread joint disease. It occurs in 70% of all joint diseases.
causes
The exact cause of deforming osteoarthritis has not yet been clarified, 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 dystrophic phenomena in the tissues, changes in the cartilage and joint capsules.
Factors affecting the development of osteoarthritis can be divided into:
- externally - this includes overloading the joints (e. g. from lifting weights), permanent injuries, occupational influences, hypothermia of the joints,
- internal - this is the influence of heredity with overstretching of the ligaments and slackness of the joints, ovarian dysfunction and climacteric changes in women, vascular accidents, circulatory disorders in cartilage tissue, obesity.
Deforming osteoarthritis can occur as one of the symptoms with alcoholism or myxedema, acromegaly or hormone treatment, with congenital hip dislocation, Marfan's syndrome (a hereditary disease characterized by excessive joint mobility and elongation of the long bones). Joint stiffness)
Stages of development
In the development of deforming osteoarthritis, there are a number of regular, sequential stages that replace each other:
- Decrease in the wateriness of the cartilage, which leads to its thinning and dehydration,
- Formation of defects and cracks in the cartilage,
- Cartilage destruction with simultaneous severe narrowing of the joint space,
- the disappearance of cartilage at the bone margins,
- compensatory compaction of the bone ends that were left without a cartilaginous surface,
- Disorders of the joints with dislocations, fractures and dysfunction of the limbs.
Symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis
The main manifestation of deforming osteoarthritis is first of all
- Pain in the joint, worse after exercise or at night,
- individual joints are affected,
- the affected joints are not symmetrical,
- at the same time there are no common manifestations of joint damage,
- no fever
- there is no strong reddening of the joints,
- no changes to the analyzes.
The process often occurs in the ankle, knee, hip, or interphalangeal joint.
If the disease progresses to the degree of destruction of the cartilage, there is a painful blockage of the joint, there is severe pain when walking, which does not move the legs and brings them to a standstill. This is because pieces of cartilage or small fragments of bone (joint "mice") get into the joint cavity.
In the area of the joints on the phalanges, nodular, very hard formations appear, while the joints are not very deformed, the muscles do not atrophy and there is no ankylosis (joint immobility).
A crunch can be heard in the joints when moving due to the friction of uneven surfaces against each other.
Pain and reduced mobility can cause contractures (muscle contractions) that shorten the legs or arms.
Deforming osteoarthritis is similar in its manifestations to various forms of arthritis, first of all it must be distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis.
diagnosis
There are no typical criteria for diagnosing deforming osteoarthritis, it can only be recognized externally by the nodules on the phalanxes. Osteoarthritis is suspected if:
- typical joint damage,
- long-term development of the disease over many years,
- elderly patient.
The diagnosis is based on X-ray data obtained before the time of clinical manifestations and the pain syndrome.
A narrowing of the joint space, a change with flattening and deformation of the joint surfaces, instability in the joint area with dislocations and subluxations, marginal bone growths, osteosclerosis (excessive increase in bone density) are noticeable.
In the further course of the process, bone spikes and bumps become visible, the joint space can become wedge-shaped.
The study is supplemented by an arthroscopy, a blood test without signs of inflammation.
It is necessary to conduct an examination of the periarticular fluid.
Treatment of deforming osteoarthritis
Treatment is carried out by traumatologists and orthopedists.
The methods of treating deforming osteoarthritis depend on the degree of involvement of the joints in the process, as well as the duration of the lesion and the presence of pain.
First, conservative therapy is used.
- Relief of the joints,
- Weight loss,
- the use of metabolites - a course of aloe or vitreous intramuscular in courses,
- use cartilage restoration stimulants during intramuscular injections in courses.
Complements the treatment:
- taking quinolone drugs,
- anti-inflammatory therapy.
If there is inflammation of the joint, a hormonal course in the joint is indicated.
A complex of massages, physiotherapy effects, mud therapy and thermal effects are also used. Spa treatment is useful.
In advanced cases, surgical treatment will help - joint arthroplasty. In the future, relief of the joint, weight loss, walking with the assistance of a stick or crutches, physical therapy exercises will be shown.
forecast
Deforming osteoarthritis without the necessary treatment has a slow but steadily progressive course. Leads to disabilities and significant functional disorders of the joints, movement disorders. Therefore, at the first signs of osteoarthritis, active therapy is indicated, lasting in courses of 1-2 months.