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Degenerative-deforming changes – like degenerative changes of the hip – occur quite often. Defective alignment of the long axis of the femur and tibia (valgus, varus) plays a special role in the development of degenerative changes.
These changes are more common in women than in men, and often affect both joints.
symptoms
The first complaints are weakness and rapid fatigue of the legs, limited mobility with difficulty in fully extending the knee. Pains may appear and intensify gradually. The knee is usually thickened and insulated. The maximum flexion and extension movements cause pain. There is pressure soreness of the joint space. The lower leg is often varus or valgus.
During exacerbations, the knee may become distended due to the accumulation of excessive amounts of fluid, and its increased warmth.
Treatment
In the early stage of the changes, conservative treatment is applied, consisting in maintaining the muscle strength of the limb, preventing joint contractures, and relieving pain. In this period of changes, intra-articular administration of drugs containing hyaluronic acid, which is a component of articular cartilage and synovial fluid, can be of great help.
With the accompanying pain and disturbances in the limb axis, favorable results are achieved by surgical treatment consisting in restoring the correct limb axis. If there is a significant degree of destruction of the joint with pains that make it impossible to walk, there is a possibility of stiffening the joint or implanting an artificial joint.
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