Before treating the knee bursitis, it is necessary to find out the causes of its occurrence and the form of the disease. In addition, you need to correctly identify the symptomatology to exclude similar diagnoses.
Name
A clear definition of bursitis of the knee joint is the inflammation of the periarticular synovial bags.
The synovial bag (bursa) is a small membrane cavity filled with a viscous liquid. Bursa serves as a kind of shock absorber, it reduces friction and pressure of tissues during the load on the joint. If the synovial bag inflames, intensified fluid production begins, which, in some cases, contains pus.
Kinds
Depending on the nature of the disease and the composition of the fluid in the bursa, the following varieties of bursitis are distinguished:
1. By clinical signs:
- chronic;
- subacute;
- acute;
- recurrent.
2. The composition of the synovial fluid (exudate):
- purulent;
- hemorrhagic;
- serous.
3. By the causative agent of inflammation:
- specific (pathogen - bacteria or infection);
- nonspecific.
Bursitis of the knee joint - symptoms
Basic:
- soft and elastic painful swelling in the patella. Its diameter can reach 10 cm;
- painful sensations;
- increased body temperature;
- loss of strength, malaise;
- limitation of joint mobility.
The acute bursitis of the knee joint, as well as the infectious form of the disease, have additional symptoms:
- edema of the surrounding knee joints of tissues;
- redness of the skin on swelling;
- very severe pain;
- fever;
- enlargement of lymph nodes.
Chronic bursitis does not immobilize the knee joint, and for a long time may not manifest itself. Only in some cases there is a slight swelling without painful sensations. To diagnose this kind of disease is very difficult, because the synovial bag practically does not increase in sizes and the inflammation is not visible even on a roentgenologic picture.
Bursitis of the knee joint - reasons
Knee bursitis has the following causes:
- Damage and injury to the joint. They can be obtained during a fall or impact.
- Stretching.
- Overload of the joint. Occurs with a single strong physical exertion.
- Regular mechanical stress on the joint. They are related to professional activities. For example, bursitis is often called the roofer's knee.
- Doing sports. Particularly susceptible to the disease players and athletes.
- Arthritis and gout.
Treatment of knee bursitis
How to treat bursitis or knee inflammation, in any case, should consult a specialist. The main methods of treatment are to carry out complex measures, which, first of all, eliminate the root cause of the disease.
Treatment depends heavily on the form of bursitis. When non-infectious form of the disease:
- provide a state of rest for the knee joint;
- regularly apply warming compresses;
- wear a bandage;
- if necessary, remove excess synovial fluid from the bursa in outpatient settings;
- take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Infectious form requires additional actions:
- take prescribed by a doctor antibiotics;
- regularly remove purulent contents from the synovial bag;
- immobilize the affected knee joint.
The treatment of bursitis should be approached very responsibly in order to avoid the overflow of the disease into a chronic form, and also to avoid a possible relapse. In addition, advanced bursitis is difficult to cure, it may be necessary to open or even remove the bursa with a long subsequent period of rehabilitation.