Diagnosis | Knee swelling

Diagnosis

Knee swelling is a symptom that can be caused by a number of different diseases. In order to find out which disease is responsible for the symptoms in an individual case, a doctor should be consulted. Specialists in the diagnosis of knee swelling are specialists in orthopedics and trauma surgery.

In addition to a detailed anamnesis of the patient in which he/she describes which symptoms appear how and when, the physical examination of the affected person follows. With the help of this examination, the physician can estimate how much fluid is in the knee joint and, if necessary, also make a guess as to which disease it is. Finally, imaging examinations often clarify clearly which disease is responsible for the knee swelling.

Especially the MRI examination of the knee allows the doctor to assess the knee joint and the structures involved. With the help of an ultrasound device, it can also be determined whether there is an accumulation of fluid and if so, where it is located. The actual amount of fluid can also be easily determined with this examination method. Finally, so-called punctures can help to find the actual cause of knee swelling. Here, a portion of the fluid is removed with a needle and examined in the laboratory for pathogens.

Treatment

The treatment of knee swelling depends primarily on the disease that is responsible for the swelling. In principle, a distinction must be made between symptomatic and causal treatment. Symptomatically, the swelling of the knee joint can usually be treated well by cooling and sparing the affected leg and by putting it up.

Although the swelling will not disappear completely as a result of these measures, an improvement in the symptoms can be assumed. Taking anti-inflammatory medication is also recommended for a variety of diseases that can be responsible for the swelling. The anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties of ibuprofen and diclofenac, for example, thus have both a symptomatic and a causative component, since the inflammation is usually responsible for the knee swelling. Other causal treatments for knee swelling can include surgery (as in the case of knee joint arthrosis), or the use of certain medications (for example, in the case of infections). In order for the treatment to be successful and the knee swelling to subside quickly, a doctor should always be consulted to determine the appropriate therapy.