{"id":6406,"date":"2020-01-21T19:15:44","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T18:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/federicogiardina.com\/arthrosis-of-the-knee\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T17:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T15:56:14","slug":"arthrosis-of-the-knee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/federicogiardina.com\/en\/arthrosis-of-the-knee\/","title":{"rendered":"Arthrosis of the knee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Progressive cartilage loss is often accompanied by a progressive onset of knee discomfort to the point of pain (gonalgia) resulting in knee<\/strong> osteoarthritis<\/strong> or gonarthrosis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Knee pain<\/strong> may be present initially at periods, depending on the weather or type of physical activity; later, in the more advanced stages of chondral wear, the pain may become constant and of medium to high intensity.<\/p>\n\n

Knee pain<\/strong> is typically localized in the inner (medial) and posterior<\/strong> areas, although it can also affect the anterior and lateral areas.<\/p>\n\n

Depending on age, knee characteristics, and the extent of cartilage damage, one can rely on various conservative or surgical treatments.<\/p>\n\n

Arthrosis and effusion in the knee<\/h2>\n\n

The knee joint is contained by a fibrous capsule lined on the inside with a membrane, called the synovial<\/em> membrane. Normally, the synovial membrane produces a small amount of fluid that provides nourishment for the cartilage and lubrication of the joint; in cases of major trauma or arthrotic degeneration, the synovial membrane may produce fluid that “bulges” the knee (endoarticular effusion). <\/p>\n\n

Thus, in the absence of trauma, it is highly likely that an effusion is due to arthrotic degeneration of the knee.<\/p>\n\n

Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis <\/h2>\n\n

Diagnosis is made with X-rays<\/strong> preferably under load<\/strong> (standing) and MRI<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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Arthrosis: bone contact between the two joint heads<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Why does a knee become arthritic?<\/h2>\n\n

Cartilage’s wear of the knee<\/strong> occurs, primarily, physiologically; in fact, as the years go by, this natural joint surface.<\/p>\n\n

There may be some factors that promote cartilage wear such as:<\/p>\n\n

  1. weight gain;<\/li>
  2. Absence of part of the menisci due to previous surgery;<\/li>
  3. previous fracture;<\/li>
  4. Alteration of the knee axis: a varus or valgus knee. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n

    How is knee osteoarthritis treated?<\/h2>\n\n

    To decrease the pain, it is necessary to change one’s lifestyle by losing weight<\/strong> and, perhaps, associating low-gravity exercise<\/strong> (biking, gym exercises, swimming, water exercises, Yoga, etc.).<\/p>\n\n

    If the knee has a joint effusion, its aspiration may benefit (arthrocentesis).<\/p>\n\n

    Subsequently, a role in improving knee pain and function is played by the use of oral pain relievers or hyaluronic acid and\/or<\/strong> PRP (“platelet-rich-plasma”)<\/strong> infiltrative therapies<\/a><\/strong> in the knee.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    If conservative (non surgical) treatments do not allow for pain improvement, we will turn to surgical treatments.<\/p>\n\n

    Arthrosis of the knee and surgery <\/h2>\n\n

    If the cartilage is worn but its wear and tear has not reached the bone <\/strong>(gonarthrosis<\/strong>) to preserve and regenerate it, the Patient may benefit from non-prosthesis knee surgery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    In addition to knee arthroscopy<\/strong>, which will allow treatment of accessory joint problems, the two main nonprosthetic surgeries to preserve cartilage are corrective knee osteotomy<\/a> combined or not with meniscus transplantation<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n