Swollen knee (swollen knee)

Knee swelling may be a manifestation of arthritis. Osteoarthritis tends to affect the back of the patella and the medial part of the knee joint, which often leads to varus deformity, the course is usually carried out with the help of NSAIDs and measures aimed at reducing overweight; sometimes locally produce steroid injections. It may be necessary and surgical treatment. Varus deformity can be corrected with an osteotomy. knee joint may be affected by rheumatoid arthritis, gout and septic arthritis.

See also:

• pain Knee pain
• Knee pain
• pain when walking Knee pain when walking
• What is dangerous knee pain and what to do about it

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Other causes of knee swelling

[5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Meniscus cysts

In this disease, the degree of swelling in the area of the knee joint varies greatly, but the pain is localized over the joint area. More often lateral cysts, but not medial meet. The swelling is most noticeable when bending the knee joint at 60-70 °, with full flexion it is less noticeable. In this case, the meniscus is often torn in an unusual medial direction, which can cause the appearance of “clicks” in the knee joint and the relaxation of its ligaments. The pain disappears after the removal of a cyst and a damaged meniscus. Ligament rupture, meniscus lesions and patellar dislocation is one of the main causes of knee joint swelling.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Exfoliating osteochondritis

The essence of the disease is local necrosis of the articular cartilage and underlying bone, which leads to the formation of free bodies in the joint cavity, which are separated from the surrounding bone tissue. The reason is unknown. The medial femoral condyle is more often affected. The disease begins, as a rule, in adolescence and youth, while after exercise there is pain in the knee joint, which sometimes swells. Happens and blockade of the joint. On the radiograph find defects on the articular surface. Since spontaneous recovery may occur, they are not in a hurry with treatment, especially in the early stages of the disease. The affected area can be surgically removed (if it has not yet broken off at this place), which will prevent it from breaking away, or it can be fixed in place with a pin. This condition predisposes to the development of arthritis.

[16], [17], [18], [19]

Loose bodies (articular mice) in the cavity of the knee joint

Their presence causes blocking of the knee joint (in this case all movements in the joint are violated, in contrast to the partial blockade that occurs when the meniscus is torn, when only extension is sharply limited), followed by swelling due to accumulation of effusion.

Causes: dissecting osteochondritis (up to 3 free bodies are in the joint cavity), osteoarthritis (no more than 10 free bodies), comminuted fractures of the articular surface (no more than 3 free bodies) or synovial, chondromatosis (more than 50 free bodies). If the presence of free bodies (articular mice, or arthritis) in the joint cavity causes its blockade, they should be removed. This can be done with arthroscopy.

[20], [21], [22], [23], [24]

Bursites

Around the knee joint are located 16 synovial bags, or bursa. The most common is the preprepare bursa (“maid's knee”). At the same time, swelling is observed over the anterior-inferior surface of the patella, which is caused by inflammation of the bursa and the accumulation of fluid in it due to increased friction (work performed on the knees). If the inferior bursa of the patella is inflamed, then they talk about the "vicar's knee" (clergy also often kneel, but in a more upright position). A semi-membranous bursa can also be inflamed in the popliteal fossa (this is a cyst of the popliteal fossa, which differs from the Baker cyst, which is located there and is a hernial protrusion of synovia from the knee cavity). The preparative bursa can be aspirated, hydrocortisone can be injected into it, making its relapses more rare, and, finally, if it is distinguished by a persistent course, there is a need for its surgical excision. With the help of diagnostic aspiration of bursa, aseptic bursitis resulting from excessive friction can be differentiated from infectious, often purulent bursitis, which requires surgical drainage and the use of antibotics, such as flucloxacillin, 250 mg every 6 hours.

[25], [26], [27]