In the event of joint pain or located at the level of the knee, the infiltration can make it possible to limit the suffering. This medical procedure is very easy to perform and does not leave scars. But how is it done?

For Doctor Allal, orthopedic surgeon at the Clairval private clinic in Marseille, “the purpose of the infiltrations is to relieve pain”. There are two very specific types of knee infiltration:

Infiltrations in the joint (intra articular)

infiltrations in the joint (intra articular) or around the knee, called periarticular. Injections into the joint are made in the case of degeneration of the joints, in other words osteoarthritis. Today, it is not possible to cure osteoarthritis, only to slow its progression and relieve the pain.

Injections for knee pathologies

For the second type, the injections are done in the context of pathologies of the tendons, the meniscus, etc. But what are the products injected? “In the case of joint problems, it is most often corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory and analgesics or hyaluronic acid to supplement the role of cartilage. But today new products are being developed, and in particular PRP (plasma rich in platelets) which has regenerative properties on the cartilage ”specifies the orthopedic surgeon. This enriched plasma is taken via a blood sample taken beforehand on the patient. His blood is then centrifuged to separate the red blood cells from the platelets and collect the latter, which are injected into the joint. For localized injections, corticosteroids are injected.

The operation is very quick and easy. After disinfecting the area, the surgeon or rheumatologist performs local anesthesia. He then introduces a needle into the area to be treated (joint, meniscus, tendons, etc.) with which he injects the infiltration liquid. The gesture must be precise to avoid touching other organs such as tendons or muscles.

“This operation does not require more than five minutes but must be carried out under strict aseptic conditions” adds Dr Allal. The operation is not painful and the patient can walk immediately. The positive effects can be observed quickly after a few days. However, you must be careful for a few hours after infiltration.

There are very few side effects and they are rare. Some patients suffer from slight vagal discomfort or redness and sensations of heat in the face, it is for this reason that it is important to come accompanied on the day of the infiltration. The greatest risk, but the most exceptional (1 in 50 infiltrations), is infection, as in all medical procedures.

For the surgeon, “there is no major contraindication, we must be careful with patients who suffer from significant co-morbidities, cardiac and coagulation problems or diabetes”. He also recalls that the effectiveness and duration of treatment depend on the patient and his pathology. “If a patient suffers from severe osteoarthritis, the infiltration will have less impact than with a patient with little osteoarthritis”. The infiltrations can be repeated once a year. “But if the infiltrations are not effective, we must opt ​​for other solutions such as insoles, physiotherapy, osteotomy in case of misalignment of the lower limbs or joint replacement with a prosthesis.” adds Dr Allal.

In case of pain, do not hesitate to consult a rheumatologist or an orthopedic surgeon. Infiltrations can be performed in the office of a rheumatologist or surgeon as long as the environment is sanitized.

The knee is a joint that connects the femur, thigh bone, to the calf bones, tibia, and fibula. The terminal part of the femur is rounded while the upper part of the tibia is almost flat. The void left between the two bones is filled with cartilage and menisci, a kind of cushion. Cartilage protects the bone from friction, while the meniscus acts as a shock absorber. With age, the cartilage wears down and the space between the bones decreases. The pain comes from the friction between the bones, which are less and less protected by the cartilage and the meniscus.

Advice to follow in case of osteoarthritis

Even if osteoarthritis is not treatable, there are some simple ways to slow the progression, while limiting the pain. It is first necessary to ensure a healthy lifestyle with adapted physical activities. According to the Health Insurance, it is advisable to:

• avoid walking during the most painful periods,
• promote, on the other hand, daily walking apart from very painful outbreaks,
• avoid sports which strain the knees (cycling, skiing, etc.), prolonged standing positions and carrying heavy loads,
• take a cane in painful period by holding it on the side opposite to the most affected knee.

It is sometimes recommended to lose weight, to wear knee pads to relieve the knee or to do physiotherapy sessions.