Elbow osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is an acute chronic disease. Its occurrence is associated with the depletion of the cartilage tissue of the joints, therefore, it most often occurs in older and elderly people. Women suffer from osteoarthritis more often than men.
With age, the risk of developing the disease increases significantly. After 60 years, most of them face such joint problems. However, among young people, cases of osteoarthritis are not uncommon. Only it is caused by other reasons.
Osteoarthritis involves the accumulation of excess salt and fluid in the tissues around the joint, leading to inflammation. This damages the synovium. This process is known in medicine as synovitis. Depending on the causes of occurrence, it is divided into infectious and aseptic. In the first case, synovitis can be caused by trauma or any endocrine disorders, and in the second, by the presence of bacteria in the microflora. As a result, osteoarthritis leads to deformation of the joint, which loses its function. It is important to diagnose the disease in time and carry out appropriate treatment. The sooner it is started, the more likely it is to maintain joint mobility and avoid more serious problems.
In most cases, osteoarthritis affects large joints and rarely affects small ones, such as the ulnar. This is due to the tight fit of the articular surfaces and the high strength of the ligamentous apparatus. In addition, the elbow joint is not subjected to significant physical stress in comparison with all others.
Content:
- Causes of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
- Types of osteoarthritis
- Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
- Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
Causes of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
The development of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint in the elderly is caused by the thinning of cartilage tissue with age. This is due to disturbances in cell nutrition. Young people can also experience similar body processes that are considered premature aging and cause joint problems.
Cartilage can change its properties due to circulatory disorders, after suffering various injuries, infectious and non-infectious arthritis, hemarthrosis, metabolic disorders. As a result, the fabric loses its usual properties. The cartilage resistance to external loads decreases, and osteoarthritis of the elbow joint develops.
Athletes such as tennis players often suffer from this disease. The risk group also includes people whose activities are associated with performing monotonous movements in which the elbow joint takes part. In the activities of masons, miners, foundry workers, blacksmiths, tools that cause vibration are often used. It leads to microtrauma of the elbow joint, which in turn becomes the cause of deforming osteoarthritis.
Knowing the factors contributing to the development of the disease, its prevention should be carried out. It implies compliance with safety rules at work and during sports. It is necessary to avoid injuries to the elbow joint, if you experience discomfort, consult a doctor. When doing physical exercise, you should evenly distribute the load on the muscles and joints.
Types of osteoarthritis
Depending on the stage of development of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint, it is of three types:
- 1 degree - the elasticity of the cartilage tissue decreases, it becomes loose. Externally, the ongoing processes are invisible. Sometimes the patient may feel a feeling of fatigue in the elbow joint, but there is no pronounced pain;
- 2 degrees - when performing flexion-extension movements in the elbow joint, a crunch is heard. Tangible pains appear. Cartilage in osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree is actively destroyed;
- Grade 3 - movements in the elbow joint at this stage of the development of the disease become almost impossible due to severe pain. Changes occur in the cartilaginous plate, the synovium becomes inflamed. The elbow joint begins to swell, the patient may have a fever. Unpleasant sensations are constantly felt, so even performing simple actions with your hand causes pain.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
In most cases, osteoarthritis of the elbow joint is painless. It can only be detected by radiography.
If the disease causes discomfort, then the focus of pain is usually located in the brachioradial joint. It is on him that the greatest load falls when performing movements with a brush.
Gradually, the joint ceases to perform its functions. His immobility is a clear sign of osteoarthritis. Another symptom can be detected by feeling. With osteoarthritis of the elbow joint, the head of the radius increases.
On the subject: Pain in the elbow joint: what to do?
Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
The presence of osteoarthritis is determined after radiography. Upon confirmation of the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. In most cases, it involves the use of drugs, physiotherapy, exercise therapy and, if necessary, surgery.
As part of drug treatment, chondoprotectors are widely used, for example, Artra. Such drugs prevent the destruction of cartilage, stop inflammation and get rid of pain. Pain relievers, which include paracetamol, help to get rid of unpleasant sensations. The most powerful drugs used for the same purposes are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
On the subject: List of modern drugs and drugs for joints
The physiotherapeutic procedures that are used for osteoarthritis of the elbow joint include ultrasound, magnetic and laser therapy, electrophoresis. It is recommended to independently perform special physical exercises recommended by your doctor.
Medication can be combined with traditional medicine. For osteoarthritis, various tinctures are used, compresses are made. For a complete recovery of the elbow joint during treatment, you should limit physical activity, do not lift anything heavy, exclude the implementation of monotonous repetitive movements.
On the subject: Effective Home Remedies
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich | Orthopedist
Education: diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received in 2009 at the Medical Academy. I. M. Sechenov. In 2012 completed postgraduate studies in Traumatology and Orthopedics at the City Clinical Hospital named after Botkin at the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery.
