Synovitis of the knee joint

Eighth-grade Vladimir, after school, usually ran three times a week to train in football. After the next training, having come home, the guy began to feel soreness in the right knee area. In the morning, too, there was a slight pain, the temperature rose, and the joint was hot and swollen. Volodya had to go to the doctor instead of school. In the clinic after the examination, the guy first heard the name of this pathology - the synovitis of the knee joint.

Let us also get acquainted with this term, since the traumatism does not decrease, but rather the opposite (and the synovitis most often arises precisely as a result of trauma).

Definition

The synovitis of the knee joint is an inflammation of the joint membrane, which is called synovial membrane. It is the knee joint that most often suffers from this pathology. It is accompanied by an accumulation of effusion (unclear fluid) in the joint bag.

Causes

More common is traumatic Synovitis of the knee joint. Usually the cause is a certain damage inside the joint. Such damage causes an appropriate reaction. It can also be the result of arthritis or irritation of the synovium.

Synovitis differs aseptic and infectious. Aseptic synovitis can be:

• traumatic;
• allergic;
• Neurogenic, and also others.
  

The infection causes a purulent synovitis!

The synovitis of the knee joint is also divided into acute and chronic.

Symptoms

At the very beginning, we talked about a guy who, as a result of unnoticed microtrauma, had an acute synovitis of the knee joint. Symptoms of acute synovitis can also be seen in the example of Vladimir:

• Increased body temperature;
• Change in the shape of the knee joint;
• General weakness;
• pain;
• Restriction of motion.
• Appearance of effusion.

Infectious synovitis: symptoms

• heat;
• At times delirium;
• chills;
• weakness;
• Redness of the skin;
• Limited motion.

Chronic Synovitis

In chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane (synovitis), pain is less pronounced, fluid in the joint accumulates periodically. Chronic synovitis of the knee joint can cause the development of deforming arthrosis.

Treatment

Treatment of this pathology provides for a comprehensive approach. The method is chosen depending on the causes and nature of the course of the disease. To combat synovitis the following measures are used:

• Puncture of the knee joint;
• Immobilization (restriction of motion) of the joint;
• physiotherapy.
• General strengthening procedures;
• LFK (therapeutic exercise).
  

Puncture

Puncture of the knee joint with synovitis is carried out in the first place. This procedure is practically painless. It is produced without anesthesia in a small operating room.

The joint is pierced by a thin needle, the synovial fluid is pumped out and sent to a laboratory analysis.

Immobilization

To ensure stability and complete rest, the movements of the joint are limited by means of a special knee or pressure bandage. Its duration usually reaches one week.

Medication

It is used in order to avoid complications of the inflammatory process.

For example, the hero of our story, football player Volodya was completely healed, but the other guy was less fortunate. The process was complicated by suppuration and destruction of the joint precisely because of untimely treatment and lack of medication.

Parallel to the therapy of the underlying disease, the manifestation of pathology itself is also eliminated: pain, impaired functions. The acute form of the disease is treated in the hospital. With a prolonged form, a chronic synovitis of the knee joint requires surgery. In this case, the operation itself is considered as the initial means, and then for medical treatment, medication and rehabilitation therapy are used.