Causes and Symptoms of Synovitis of the Knee

Inflammation of the synovium is a fairly common disease, which is often encountered in orthopedic practice. And in most cases, the inflammatory process is observed in the knee. So what are the main causes of synovitis of the knee joint, what signs are accompanied by the disease? These questions are interesting to many people.

The main causes of synovitis of the knee joint

To date, it is common to identify several main causes of the inflammatory process:

• Most often in medical practice occurs posttraumatic synovitis of the knee joint. In this case, the inflammation of the membrane is caused by a mechanical knee injury (for example, by a stroke or a fall), which is accompanied by damage to the internal joints.
• In some cases, the inflammatory process is caused by various diseases: arthritis, hemophilia, etc. It is a reactive synovitis of the knee joint, accompanied by a secondary inflammation.
• The most severe is the chronic form of inflammation, since in the early stages it is very difficult to diagnose it. Its main symptoms - fatigue when walking, insignificant soreness - practically do not cause fear in the patient. And in the meantime, progressive inflammation can lead to dangerous consequences (up to the complete immobility of the joint).

Symptoms of synovitis of the knee joint

The clinical picture for a similar disease may look different, since the symptoms and their intensity depend on the form and cause of the inflammatory process. If the synovitis is caused by severe trauma, the symptoms are very characteristic. Inflammation is accompanied by an effusion into the internal cavity of the joint and a strong edema. The slightest touch responds with pain, the joint is almost completely immobilized. In addition, there is a sharp increase in temperature and worsening of the patient's condition.

At the same time, the chronic form in the early stages is accompanied only by increased fatigue during walking and minor discomfort. As accumulation of effusion in the joint cavity is observed, limited movement, soreness, can develop a dropsy of the joint. In the absence of treatment, a gradual stretching of the ligaments, and sometimes dislocations, is possible.

In some cases, synovitis may be complicated by infection in the joint cavity, which is fraught with the appearance of a purulent process.

Treatment of synovitis of the knee joint

With such a disease, treatment is selected exclusively by a doctor, the unauthorized use of drugs is prohibited. At the initial stages, when the symptoms are not expressed too much, conservative therapy is possible, which includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and ointments. Patients are prescribed drugs that eliminate puffiness and normalize blood circulation. In the presence of infection, it is advisable to use antibiotics. In addition, an obligatory part of the treatment are exercises of therapeutic gymnastics, as well as various physiotherapy procedures.

If the disease is accompanied by severe pain, then it is possible to use special prostheses that limit the movement of the joint. Only in the most severe cases, surgical methods of treatment are used.