Knee Osteoarthritis

What is

When a knee is healthy, it allows the flexion of the leg, its extension and daily situations such as bending and squatting. This is possible thanks to the good function of the elements that are part of it such as the meniscus, ligaments and cartilage among others. This last one is a tissue with ideal characteristics to allow the protection function of the knee, however, unlike other types of tissues such as muscles, tendons and bones, it cannot be cured and that is why we must try to take care of it and provide the conditions for it to last for many years.

Maintaining an adequate weight, proper nutrition, performing daily activities with consistency, and maintaining an adequate physical condition will help preserve the structure of this cartilage. When the cartilage deteriorates, the bones that form part of the knee suffer impacts and wear and tear that over time generate symptoms such as pain, functional disability and diminished faculties.

Causes

Several factors increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. Below, we will review the most important ones:

Age: the cartilage’s low capacity for repair decreases every year, to which we have to add the wear and tear that occurs.
Obesity: given its key location in the legs, this joint is directly overloaded in situations involving excessive weight.
Hereditary factors: the shape of our legs, of our pelvis conditions a direct overload of this joint.
Injuries: meniscus and ligament injuries directly lead to increased wear and tear of the joint.

Symptoms

The symptoms accompanying osteoarthritis generally do not appear suddenly, but develop over the years. The most frequent are:

Pain in the area that is no longer protected due to cartilage wear.
The crunching sounds that occur when the joint wears out.
The effusion that produces inflammation that is triggered in an unprotected joint.
The daily and continuous shock of bones devoid of cartilage.
Decreased mobility.

Approach protocol

Diagnosis and assessment

A correct medical evaluation by means of a good anamnesis and physical examination will be necessary. The multidisciplinary vision is essential for a comprehensive, personalized approach, focused on achieving a prolonged relief of pain depending on the phase in which it is found.

Complementary tests

X-ray and/or MRI may be performed.

Treatment

The treatment of this pathology will depend to a large extent on the patient’s condition, age and symptoms, the condition of the cartilage, the degree of osteoarthritis in the joint and how much of the total joint is affected by osteoarthritis will determine the approach to be followed. Below, we outline some of the possible treatments:

Pharmacological treatments such as dietary supplements to improve cartilage condition and/or drugs to relieve pain.
Hyaluronic Acid Blocks
Corticosteroid blockades
Regenerative medicine
- Platelet-rich plasma: the compound extracted from the patient’s own blood has a concentrate of anti-inflammatory factors and cytokines that make it very useful for this pathology.
- Cytokine-rich serum: this is a different process to platelet-rich plasma in which a compound rich in anti-inflammatory cytokines is also obtained from the blood.
- Stem cells: originating from the patient’s bone or fat, they have a regenerative and anti-inflammatory power that makes them a unique treatment for pain relief.
Radiofrequency
Physiotherapy: methodology based on knowledge and clinical reasoning in which we combine a series of techniques and treatments both manual therapy and invasive techniques, always associated or complementing them with cutting-edge technology that allows us to accelerate the recovery process. Among other high-tech devices include Magnetolith, SIS, focal shock waves, Indiba, among others. This therapeutic combination allows us to activate the patient early to begin with a routine and a process of specific therapeutic exercises that allow us to enhance and strengthen the lost functional patterns.

Here begins your life without pain

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Stig Herbern

1 day ago

Very professional and the treatment has helped me to survive the summer. I had one injection in May but due to too much tension it did not work as well and I was offered a new treatment mid July that worked much better. The injection are done at the Kiron hospital in a very professional setting. Both the doctor and the assistant are client oriented and make you feel taken care of.

Daniela Payan

5 days ago

Fernando Molina

7 days ago

Gran equipo Pablo muy apañado felicitaciones

Monica Ortiz Salmeron

7 days ago

Miriam Casares Garzón

7 days ago

Francisco Menacho

1 week ago

Quiero compartir y agradecer a la Dtra.Natalia Neira su gran trabajo y ser una gran profesional,simpatía y amabilidad,en su gran trabajo día a día.Gracias Dtra.

Horacio Helmann

1 week ago

Las intervenciones que me ha realizado el Doctor han sido un exito y la atención del personal muy buena , recomendado !!!

encarni pino muñoz

2 weeks ago

Thess

2 weeks ago

I have experienced the utmost professional and reliable advice and help from this unit. Struggling with Meralgia Parastetica for over 2 years and intense discomfort and pain during the past 8 months I am now finally getting the help I needed. First with a nerve block, then an ablation on my trapped nerve. I truly recommend this pain unit, their staff and in my case Surgeon Dr Alejandro Miras Garcia.