Osteoarthritis of the elbow is a chronic degenerative diseases accompanied by tissue damage hinge joint and a violation of the functional activities of the hand. Pathology is formed slowly and without adequate treatment can lead to the destruction of astroelite.
The most dangerous kind of postprocess – deforming arthrosis.
The beginning of osteoarthritis performs minor discomfort in the elbow joint, it is able to end in a complete loss of mobility of the hand.
Pathogenetic process
The essence of the disease -a degenerative transformation chondrules tissues that lead to gradual destruction of astroelite. As the progression of postprocess involves bony structures, ligamentous system, and other components of the hinge joint.
Deforming arthrosis of the elbow often develops as a result of injury or permanent loads. With time named as the area becomes more vulnerable and prone to degeneration. Phototransformation begin with reducing the volume of synovial fluid, the function of which is creation of conditions for free convert motor acts limb.
Reduction of quantity of synovia promotes the following reactions:
- increase intragastralnogo friction;
- decrease the width of the intra-articular gap;
- the development of bone growths – osteophytes;
- restriction of mobility;
- the development of pain syndrome.
Pathology occurs, accompanied by a strong pain that reduces quality of life and the bringer of discomfort. In postprocess involved a gradual way all the components of astroelite – articular capsule, osteotomy, muscle and ligament fibers. Often illness is a result previously suffering traumatic injuries. Abnormal fusion of bone structures, leads to a disproportionate distribution of load on controlnow fabric.
As a result of this process, there are places with thinned cartilage. The beginning of joint degenerative and dystrophic phenomena can be any age, but the demonstration usually appears at age over 40.
Symptomatic picture
In the opening stage the clinic is erased or non-existent. The patient continues a normal life until the appearance of obvious symptoms. Gradually the cartilage loosened. Some part separating from the bones according to the type of scales penetrate the articular slit, destruction articular tissue and sinovi. Such phenomena cause pain symptoms and lead to inflammatory processes in atrocinerea.
The formation of deforming arthrosis can lead to decreased mobility of the limb, at the same time may form a synovitis – acute inflammation in articular shell.
The most typical manifestation of pathology:
- pain syndrome while making a hand movement (shaving, washing, etc.), developing at the initial stage mainly in the morning, and by mid-afternoon regresses;
- swelling, redness, local temperature increase and other signs characteristic of the acute stage of the inflammation;
- intensification of pain syndrome under load in the home;
- the deterioration in the elbow in the case of a change of weather conditions;
- crunching and clicking in the elbow joint joint;
- the limited amplitude of motor acts.
Upon the formation of degenerative phenomena in the elbow and adjacent tissues of the syndrome is intensified in its manifestation. Therapy at home (messy ointment drugs or heat treatments) does not eliminate the causal factor of the disease, only suppress it clinic.
The severity of the disease is of two degrees:
- Stage 1 – complaints are absent, except for a slight fatigue of the limb. At this stage the loosened cartilage and decreases its elasticity.
- Stage 2 – transformation into the joint tissues, which leads to decreased ability to work and diskvalaficirovan athlete. Occurs pain syndrome during movement at the elbow in combination with the “crunch”. Due to lack of production of synovial fluid cartilage layer becomes dry, excessive friction leads to its destruction.
Causal factors
The essence of arthrosis of the elbow joint – destruction and degeneration of ultraelite, helped by various conditions:
- excessive fiznagruzki;
- the breakdown of the metabolism in the body and in chondrules tissue;
- injury, intractable fractures, torn ligamentous fibres, dislocations; getting into articular tissue infection;
- chronically proceeding pathology (lesions) caries, tonsillitis, gastritis and others, which contribute to the generalization of pathogenic agents in the organism;
- age-related dystrophy;
- prolonged deficiency of mineral elements and vitamins;
- irrationally selected food;
- toxic damage of the body;
- radiolucencies;
- hormonal disruption and changes in the female organism (pregnancy, menopause);
- genetic propensity.
Some role in the formation of the disease is propriateness and negative conditions of production. The risk group includes athletes (tennis player, bodybuilder, weightlifter, hammer thrower and javelin), pianists, workers on a vibrating machine. In some cases, osteoarthritis occurs as a complication after the transferred infections – brucellosis, Lyme disease.
Therapeutic approach
Pathology requires a long, complex and piecemeal treatment. Drug therapy should be combined with physiotherapy, diet therapy, exercise therapy. In rare cases is surgery and joint replacement. Definitely need fixing damaged elbow joint.
The initial stage performs a pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatment Leksredstva. After stabilizing of the state assigned procedure to stop further destructive process in the elbow joint. This shows chondroprotectors, muscle relaxant remedies, in rare cases, corticosteroids (intrasubstance introduction), topical treatment with ointments (Fastum gel, Voltaren), physiotherapy.
Progressive form require a long, even years of therapy. The most effective are physiotherapy techniques:
- phonophoresis;
- ULTRASONIC treatment;
- electrophoresis;
- amplipulse;
- balneo-, magneto – and mud baths;
- laser therapy.
