Causes of pain in the knee

Most often, patients complain of pain in the anterior part of the knee. In this case, the knee often swells up. The causes of pain in the knee are numerous.

[1], [2], [3]

Chondromalacia of patella

This disease is a frequent cause of pain in the knee. Young women are more often affected. Pain in the nadkoleiikea are noted after a long stay in the sitting position. Characteristic in this palpatory tenderness in the medial zadiopatellar region and pain when pressing on the patella and the front of the thigh.

The diagnosis is usually established clinically, but if it is possible to produce arthroscopy, then softening and / or fibrillar twitching of the patellar articular cartilage is detected. As therapeutic measures, exercises aimed at strengthening the broad medial thigh muscle are recommended, lying on the back with a foot rotated outwards. Then it is recommended to lift the heel 10 cm above the floor to 500 times during the day, in the intervals it is necessary to relax the muscles (the exercises themselves are unpleasant, but they relieve pain in 80% of cases). If the symptoms continue to bother the patient, despite the implementation of the above exercises during the year, you can try arthroscopic release of the lateral supporting patellar ligament. If the pain remains after this, then you should think about the patellectomy.

[4], [5], [6], [7], [8]

Syndrome of excessive lateral pressure

In this case, palpation sensitivity and soreness are noted along the "posterior" surface of the patella and laterally. Pain in the knee is worse with physical activity. Special exercises for the broad medial thigh muscle rarely bring relief. When arthroscopic, the patella appears normal. Release of the lateral supporting ligament facilitates pain.

Breached patella

Usually, this condition is accidentally detected by X-ray examination, but it is not uncommon to cause pain in the knee if the upper-lateral patella fragment turns out to be mobile. In this case, pain sensations during palpation are noted above the site of the connection of this fragment with the rest of the patella. Surgical excision of this fragment frees the person from pain.

[9], [10]

Repetitive subluxation of the patella

At the same time, too tight supporting ligament causes a lateral subluxation of the patella, which is accompanied by pain in its medial part and relaxes the knee joint. This is more common in girls with valgus knee joints. On examination, the patellar mobility in the lateral direction is increased, which can be accompanied by pain and reflex contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle (i.e., a positive patellar blockage test takes place). If, after performing special exercises for the broad medial thigh muscle, the repetition of subluxations does not stop, then the release of the lateral supporting patella of the patella is usually effective. The need to move the tendon of the patella occurs rarely.

Tendonitis of the patella

The pathological process usually begins with a small tear in any part of the patellar tendon. Most often it occurs in athletes (tendinitis at the attachment point of the tendon of the patella, the so-called knee of the jumper). Treatment: rest and reception of NSAIDs. For those patients who can not provide bed rest, it is advisable to inject corticosteroids around the tendon (not into it). With regard to Osgood-Schlatter disease.

Syndrome of the ilnotibial (ilio-tibial) tract

The synovial membrane, deeply penetrating along the course of the ilnotibial tract, is inflamed in the place where it rubs against the lateral condyle of the thigh. This is often found in runners. Treatment: rest, use of NSAIDs or local injections of glucocorticoids.

Medial Shelf Syndrome

In this case, a synovial fold over the medial meniscus of the thigh becomes inflamed. This syndrome is the cause of knee pain in the upper medial department. A short-term blockage of the knee joint may occur (which mimics the meniscus tearing). Diagnosis: arthroscopic. Treatment: rest, NSAID, local injection of steroids or arthroscopic dissection of the synovial fold.

Fatty Gland Syndrome

Deep pain in the patellar tendon can be associated with the infringement of the fat pad in the tibial-femoral junction. This pain in the knee passes after rest.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17]