مقاله تخصصی
Patellar chondromalacia
3 months ago
610 بازدید
Dr. Mohammad Hossein Delshad
تهرانpain companions
Chondromalacia patella occurs when the cartilage of the kneecap becomes soft.. This disease is more common in athletes who do vigorous sports or suffer from arthritis of the knee.. Chondromalacia patella occurs when the cartilage under the kneecap begins to break down.. How does it occur?
Patellar chondromalacia can develop gradually, when the cartilage under the knee wears away, causing the kneecap to rub against the knee joint during movement, eventually causing inflammation and pain.
Also, direct damage to the cartilage, such as a knee fracture, can also contribute to the development of this complication.
What are the symptoms?
This complication causes the patient to feel pain in the front of the knee.... Some feel pain and stiffness in the knee joints when performing certain movements:
- going up and down the stairs
- long sitting
- Kneeling
If a person has pain for more than a few weeks, he should see a doctor for examination and treatment. Chronic knee pain is defined as pain that lasts for more than 8 to 12 weeks.
What is the cause of patellar chondromalacia?
There is a layer of cartilage behind the kneecap.. When you bend the knee, the patella slides over the knee joint and this layer of cartilage protects the joint from injury.
The kneecap is fixed in place with the help of several ligaments and tendons....if any of these things don't work properly, it causes the kneecap to rub against the femur.
Such abnormal movement leads to destruction of the cartilage under the kneecap... This abnormal condition may occur due to various conditions such as the following:
- Muscle weakness
- excessive sports activity
- traumatic injury
familiarity with risk factors
Some of the things that increase the possibility of contracting this disease are as follows:
### age
Young athletes who engage in intense activities are at risk of contracting this disease.. However, aging also reduces the quality of cartilage and ultimately increases the risk of developing this disease in the elderly.
### Gender
According to the studies, this disease occurs more in women.
### Perform specific activities
Active sports can cause pressure on the knee joint.
### weight gain
People who are overweight or obese are more at risk of contracting this disease.
Read more: Causes of knee pain when climbing stairs
How to diagnose
At first, the doctor performs a physical examination and examines the symptoms of swelling.... Another thing that is checked is the alignment of the bones of the knee joint.... By applying pressure to different areas of the knee, they determine the degree of swelling and pain in the joint.
Several imaging tests that help diagnose chondromalacia patella are as follows:
- CT scan
- MRI
- examination with arthroscopy
Severity classification of the disease:
- degree 1; Softening of the knee cartilage
- grade 2; Softening of cartilage with abnormal tissue characteristics
- grade 3; Active tissue deterioration
- grade 4; Exposed to collision with bone
What is the treatment of patellar chondromalacia?
The goal of treatment is to reduce pressure on the knee joint... Cartilage damage that occurs after runner's knee usually improves with rest and the use of ice packs.
The doctor will prescribe you a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to help the treatment process...
If the patient's condition is severe, a more effective treatment solution is needed.
Physiotherapy is another treatment method that is recommended to strengthen the quadriceps, adductor, abductor and hamstring muscles.
If the recommended treatment methods are not suitable and effective for the patient, finally surgery is performed depending on his needs.
What happens if it is not treated?
As long as this complication remains untreated and continues, the severity of the disease will increase and ultimately the success of the treatment will be less.
Is patellar chondromalacia the same as arthritis?
Chondromalacia can be one of the early warning signs of arthritis in the knee joint. But it cannot be said that this is a type of arthritis... Remember that if you do not treat this condition, it may eventually turn into arthrosis.
