What Causes Knee Pain?
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. It can be the result of trauma, such as a ligament tear, cartilage or meniscus injury. Or infections and diseases such as arthritis can also cause knee pain.
Of these; ACL injury occurs after knee rotation in basketball, football, or other sports games that require sudden changes in direction.
The menisci are two structures, an inner and an outer meniscus, that function as a shock absorber in the hard rubbery knee joint. They can be torn by sudden knee bends when there is weight on them.
Patellar tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon in front of the knee as a result of being forced in skiing, cycling and jumping sports activities.
The iliotibial band syndrome occurs after the fascia tissue on the outside of the thigh bone is strained, especially in runners.
Kneecap dislocation occurs when the kneecap is displaced outward from its socket due to anatomical problems.
If there is hip or foot pain, the load distribution on the knee joint may change. This puts more stress on the knee joint.
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The most common one is osteoarthritis (calcification disease). Cartilage has a wear and tear condition that occurs with age.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects almost every joint in the body, including the knee. Although rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, its severity can vary and may progress with attacks.
Gout arthritis is caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint. Although gout most commonly affects the big toe, it can also occur in the knee.
In septic arthritis, there is swelling, pain and redness in the knee joint due to infection, and there is usually body fever.
Anterior knee pain may be associated with softening of the cartilage under the kneecap.
Overweight and obese patients experience increased stress and strain on the knee joints during ordinary activities such as walking or climbing stairs. In addition, the risk of calcification in the knee increases by putting a load on the articular cartilage.
Some imaging methods are used to diagnose knee pain. These are X-ray to detect bone fractures, anatomical disorders and calcification in the joint, computed tomography (CT) for detailed cross-sectional and 3D examinations, ultrasonography (USG) to examine the soft tissues around the knee with harmless sound waves, and muscle, tendons with the help of strong magnets. , magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate cartilage and bone marrow.
In addition, laboratory blood tests for diseases such as infection, gout or arthritis, or tests of the fluid taken by entering the knee joint with a needle can be performed.
Treatment will of course vary based on the results of these tests and imaging modalities. But in general, non-surgical methods such as oral pain and anti-inflammatory drugs, cold application, rest, sometimes knee braces, physical therapy, exercises to strengthen and balance the thigh muscles, direct injections of drugs into the joint, and in some cases surgical interventions.
Long-acting single-dose injections containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are the building blocks of cartilage, can be made into the joint, usually in painless and inflammation-free periods. This procedure can provide partial relief and relative improvement in joint movements. Cortisone injections into the joint can be performed for short-term relief in patients who are very advanced, cannot undergo surgery or do not want to.
Among the surgical options are knee arthroscopy, angle corrective bone surgeries, half knee replacement and full knee replacement, which are very common.
In arthroscopic surgery, a small incision is made into the joint with a telescopic high-resolution 4 mm diameter camera. Problems are detected on the big screen in the operating room and a second small incision is made, meniscus, cartilage and ligament surgeries are performed with the help of special instruments. You usually stay in the hospital for one night. He is then discharged. Rehabilitation begins according to the procedure.
Angle corrective surgeries are corrective bone surgeries performed to equalize the loads on the knee when there are angular curvatures in the bones around the joint.
Half knee prosthesis is performed on selected patients who are suitable for this surgery. The entire knee is not opened and some of the articular surfaces are replaced.
Full knee prosthesis is applied in patients with impaired joint movements, pain at rest, limited walking distance due to knee pain, and patients who do not benefit from medical treatments.
The joint is cut at appropriate angles, the damaged tissues are removed, and a specially designed knee prosthesis is placed in its place according to the titanium alloy joint. After the surgery, knee movements and walking exercises are started and the patient is discharged after a few days of hospitalization.
After a detailed examination in knee pain, the diagnosis is determined with appropriate imaging methods, and surgical or non-surgical treatments are applied according to the patient's needs.
Consult our Orthopedic Specialists