Orthopedics-Online

Inflammation in the knee

introduction

The knee, and in the narrower sense the knee joint, is the largest joint in the human body. It is the most stressed and so pain can occur again and again in the knee region. There are different causes that can cause pain, one of which is inflammation in the knee. If this inflammation affects the joint, it is called arthritis. As a result of inflammation in the knee, both mobility and function can be impaired and treatment will be necessary.

causes

The reasons for an inflammation in the knee can be of different origins, such as rheumatic, infectious, degenerative or traumatic nature. Rheumatoid inflammation in the knee is the result of a chronic process. It is based on a misdirection of one's own Immune system and belongs to the Autoimmune diseases. It is a systemic disease and usually affects the whole body. The immune system attacks the body's own structures such as the cartilage or other parts of the joint, which leads to a painful reaction and can furthermore irreversibly damage the joint. Gradually, cartilage or other parts of the joint are destroyed, which leads to form and axis deviations and can thus result in restricted mobility.

On the other hand there is the infection-related inflammation in the knee. This can be caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, Viruses or Mushrooms be. You can use both the Bloodstream as well as getting into the knee through surgery. In this case, too, the inflammatory processes in the joint can lead to irreversible damage and thus impairment of function.

In addition, the cause of the joint inflammation can be an accident or an injury to the knee, which is then referred to as one post-traumatic inflammationif germs have been carried into the knee joint in this way and cause inflammation.

Symptoms

Furthermore, signs of wear and tear can lead to constant inflammatory irritation of the joint, which can also lead to inflammation in the knee. The pathogenesis can be traced back to a process in which pro-inflammatory (pro-inflammatory) cytokines and mediators are released. This is followed by increased blood flow to the tissue, resulting in edema, which explains the symptoms, because regardless of the cause of the inflammation in the knee, the symptoms are classic signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling, overheating and pain with functional restrictions in the knee. These signs of inflammation are particularly pronounced in infection-related arthritis, which is caused by bacteria. The joint can also have rigidity. Other symptoms can be of a general nature, such as fatigue and fever.

Find out more about: Acute knee pain - that may be behind it

Appointment with a knee specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)

The knee joint is one of the joints with the greatest stress.

Therefore, the treatment of the knee joint (e.g. meniscus tear, cartilage damage, cruciate ligament damage, runner's knee, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of knee diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me in:

Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
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Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert

Diagnosis of inflammation on the knee

There are many things that can help with diagnostics. First of all, a detailed anamnesis should be taken, in which one goes into previous illnesses and operations. In addition, a mobility test of the joint and a pain history should follow.
The exam may be followed by joint effusion, which means there is too much fluid that normally shouldn't be there. In this case, a knee puncture can be done. The liquid obtained can then be examined for possible causes such as bacteria, and red and white blood cells can also be determined, which can also indicate the cause. A removal of the synovial fluid without a previous effusion can also provide information on the genesis.

Furthermore, general blood values can also be changed in the event of an inflammation in the knee, which is why a blood sample is part of the diagnosis, whereby different inflammation values can be determined.

Imaging techniques such as x-rays can be used. Depending on the cause of the inflammation, x-rays of other joints, such as hands, feet or the spine, can also be taken to rule out various underlying diseases such as gout or rheumatism. In general, elevation or cooling helps with acute inflammation in the knee joint. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can also be taken.

Also, anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids can be helpful. However, it is important that the correct treatment of joint inflammation can only be carried out with a correct diagnosis. In the case of infectious arthritis, for example, you need a drug against the pathogen, such as antibiotics. Since rheumatoid arthritis is caused by another underlying disease, additional therapy for the acute inflammation is necessary.

In terms of imaging, the inflammation can essentially be flanked by three examination methods: