Post-Traumatic Arthritis Knee Symptoms
Post-traumatic knee arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that happens as a result of physical injury to the joints.
What Is Post-Traumatic Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints caused by the wearing of cartilage between the bones.
Arthritis is more common in the knees and is considered to be debilitating, characterized by inflammation of the joints, pain, and limited range of movements in the knee.
There is a separate form of knee osteoarthritis called post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis that has the characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis like damage to the knee’s cartilage and is often followed by a trauma injury like fracture or tear. Post-traumatic arthritis (PTA) can occur at any age and in any joints. Repeated injuries and excess body weight can increase the risk of post-traumatic arthritis.
Is Post Traumatic Knee Arthritis Common?
Post-traumatic arthritis accounts for about 12% of knee osteoarthritis. PTA affects about 5.6 million people in the United States
What Are The Causes Of Post Traumatic Knee Arthritis?
A sportsman injured, Credits: pixabay
The following are the causes of Post Traumatic Knee Arthritis
Motor vehicle accidents
Sports injuries
Falls
A military injury
Other forms of physical trauma, such as knee surgery
Ligament injury
Knee fracture
The trauma injuries can cause significant damage to the cartilage of the knees and knee bones, ligaments, which change the mechanics of the joint. Gradually, cartilage and bone will wear differently and quickly than it was before the injury. The other causative factors for post-traumatic knee arthritis are overweight, repeated injuries to the knee, and lack of exercise.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Arthritis
PTA causes knee pain, Credits: pixabay
The risk of knee osteoarthritis was higher in patients who had a knee injury compared with those who did not. The following are the symptoms of post-traumatic knee arthritis.
Joint swelling and tenderness
Joint redness
Fluid accumulation in the joint
Warmth in the knee
Knee pain
Limited range of motion
A “crunching” sensation when moving the knee joint
Weakness or clasping in the knee
Increase in pain with movement and activity
Intolerance to weight-bearing activities
How to Diagnose Post Traumatic Arthritis?
CT Scan, Credits: pixabay
A doctor performs a physical examination to know how well the knee can move and function. A doctor will enquire when the joint pain bothers most and when it becomes worse. To view the knee cartilage and bones and to find the extent of joint damage, an X-ray examination is done.
If necessary, a CT or MRI scans are performed to evaluate the knees more in detail.
How Post Traumatic Knee Arthritis Is Treated?
A physiotherapist treating, Credits: pixabay
Treatment depends on the patient’s needs and the severity of the condition. The treatment aims to prevent further joint damages.
Some of the conservative treatment options include
Weight loss
Rest
Abstaining from activities that cause significant stress on the knees
Physical therapy
Low impact exercise and strengthening of the muscles surrounding the joint
Cortisoneinjections
Medication like NSAIDs
These conservative treatments aim to make the joints functional and more comfortable. However, they do not cure arthritis. When these conservation treatments do not work, surgical options are tried. Surgical treatment includes debriding (“cleaning out”), reconstructing, or replacing the worn-out joint surfaces. Post-traumatic arthritis progresses as time goes on. The joint surface wears out further with more use over the years.
What Are The Side Effects Of Treatment?
The long term use of NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation, kidney, liver, or other problems.
Cortisone injections are not recommended often as they can increase the blood pressure and levels of blood sugar.
Surgical treatments carry risks of infection, damage to surrounding structures, and wearing out or loosening of implants. Very rarely, complications like blood clots, heart attack, and stroke can occur.
Take-Home Message
Post Traumatic knee arthritis is a form of osteoarthritis that is due to physical injuries to the joints.