What is synovitis in the knee?
Synovitis in the knee is an inflammation of the inner skin of the knee joint. Patients suffer from pain, swelling and overheating of the knee joint. The causes of synovitis are manifold and range from traumatic injury to rheumatic disease. In the following article you can learn more about the causes, symptoms and therapy of synovialitis in the knee.
The causes
The causes of synovitis in the knee are manifold. Very often, this inflammation of the synovial membrane is caused by excessive (incorrect) load, e.g. during sports activities or kneeling work. Furthermore, traumatic injuries such as bruises of the knee can also lead to inflammation.
Via wounds in the skin in the knee area, pathogens such as bacteria can also penetrate and attack the inner joint skin. Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis or the venereal disease gonorrhea, can also make themselves felt through inflammation in the knee. Finally, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis should also be mentioned, which can also be the cause of synovitis of the knee.
To determine a clear cause of synovitis, you should consult an experienced physician. Rheumatism can also lead to synovialitis of the knee. In rheumatic diseases, our immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells.
The result is a painful inflammation of various joints. The knee joint can also be affected. In the case of an acute rheumatic attack, anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) and cortisone are usually used therapeutically.
This should lead to a rapid improvement. For frequently occurring rheumatic complaints, long-term therapy, e.g. with the active ingredient methotrexate, can also be used. These curb the immune system and can thus lead to a long-term improvement of the rheumatism.
A knee TEP is an artificial knee joint, which can be surgically inserted, for example, in the case of severe arthrosis (joint wear and tear) of the knee joint. If this artificial joint becomes infected with pathogens, synovitis can result. In this case, quick action is required to avoid having to remove the artificial knee joint again. The therapy of choice is treatment with antibiotics, which can also be given directly to the knee joint if necessary. If the inflammation cannot be contained in this way, it may be necessary to remove the knee TEP.
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