Description

Gonartroz (Knee Calcification, Erosion of Knee Cartilage)

Although it is called by names such as calcification and
fluid reduction among the people, it can mainly be defined as the wear of the
knee cartilage. It is the most common knee problem from middle
age. From the age of 40, the cartilages of almost every person begin to
weaken and wear, but some people may start earlier and progress more severely
due to reasons such as heredity, excess weight, excessive use, continuous
compulsive movements and the remnants of previous traumas.

Since the cartilages covering the knee joint surface are
worn, thinned and even destroyed, it gives symptoms such as deformity in the
knee joint and severe pain due to the friction of the bone surfaces.

At first, the pain seen after long walking, climbing
stairs and heavy carrying, as cartilage damage increases, short walks and
simple movements disturb the person. In the future, pains are seen during
rest and even during sleep.

In the early stages, weight reduction, avoiding heavy
loads, exercises, anti-inflammatory drugs can be relieved and its progression
can be reduced. Alternative drugs containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and
collagen can be tried as an aid. By injecting hyaluronic acid into the
knee, it can be tried to reduce joint friction or to help the cartilage repair
itself by making injections such as stem cells.

In patients who cannot be relieved by conservative
methods, if the age is young and the main problem is due to the curvature of
the knee bones, osteotomy operations to correct the joint axis may be
considered.

If the age of the patient is not young and is not
suitable for osteotomy surgery, joint replacement surgery, which is popularly
called prosthesis surgery, comes to the fore. Prostheses can traditionally
include both the inner and outer sides of the knee and sometimes even the part
behind the kneecap, if only a part of the knee is worn, it can also be applied
as a partial prosthesis.