Knee osteoarthritis

The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It is an intricate system of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and menisci. Only the perfect interaction of all these components enables us to move.

However, its complex structure also makes the knee joint vulnerable to injury and wear and tear. We often only realize how much we depend on a well-functioning knee joint in everyday life when an injury or wear and tear severely impairs our ability to function. Knee pain can make every step excruciating. Knee dysfunction significantly reduces quality of life.

Knee wear – the loss of joint cartilage

Cartilage, a 3- to 5-millimeter-thin layer, covers the ends of the upper and lower leg bones. Combined with synovial fluid, it allows frictionless movement. Over the course of a lifetime, the cartilage layer slowly wears away. Synovial fluid also loses its beneficial "joint-lubricating" properties. Injuries or excessive strain on the joint can significantly accelerate this process. In the final stages, the bare, rough bone surfaces rub against each other. Joint mobility is now severely restricted, and movement is painful.

Comparison of healthy knee to gonarthrosis knee Duration: 61 seconds

How is wear and tear noticeable?

A typical symptom is pain when starting to walk. The first steps in the morning or after sitting for a long time are painful for those affected. After exercise, the knee becomes swollen and painful. At this stage, the cause of the discomfort is not yet the exposed bone.

Wear particles from the cartilage cause inflammation in the joint. This inflammation leads to the familiar pain and swelling. If these intermittent symptoms are left untreated, a chronic course of the disease is imminent. The inflammation will not subside and may eventually spread to the bone. If you're already familiar with these early warning signs, urgent action is required.

How does the doctor make the diagnosis?

In addition to examining the knee joint, a simple X-ray is very informative. An experienced physician can usually make the correct diagnosis at this point. In some cases, an additional magnetic resonance imaging scan may be useful, especially when planning surgical procedures.