Therapy
The treatment success and thus the prognosis of M. Ahlbäck are generally the better, the earlier the disease can be recognized as such. The treatment of M. Ahlbäck’s disease is basically divided into so-called conservative (i.e. non-operative) and operative measures. Non-surgical treatment methods include above all those measures that improve the symptoms of the respective patient.
In order to relieve the pain caused by M. Ahlbäck, various painkillers (analgesics) can be taken. The choice of the appropriate analgesic should be made by the treating physician depending on the extent of the pain. For the time being, the affected patient can help himself with light medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
However, since inflammatory processes also occur in the course of M. Ahlbäck’s disease, taking the additional anti-inflammatory ibuprofen often seems more sensible. In addition, the treating physician will order various general measures in a first treatment step. These measures include protection of the affected knee joint by relieving the strain on it, taking a break from sports and the temporary use of crutches.
In addition, the intake of bisphosphonates to stimulate bone formation is considered the first measure for M. Ahlbäck. In general, all therapy methods should serve to stimulate the dead bone tissue to regenerate and thus increase the stability of the knee joint. In the early stages of M. Ahlbäck’s disease, the so-called “hyperbaric oxygen therapy” (HBO for short) is considered particularly promising.
With the help of this method, a natural healing reaction can be demonstrably stimulated, especially in relatively young patients. In addition, after successful hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the ingrowth of new blood vessels in the joint-forming thigh bone can be observed. The procedure of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is quite simple.
The patient suffering from M. Ahlbäck inhales pure oxygen at high ambient air pressure in a pressure chamber. In this way, the so-called oxygen partial pressure in the tissue is increased and the healing of the bone is stimulated. Despite excellent treatment results, hyperbaric oxygen therapy for M. Ahlbäck is still not financed by the statutory health insurance companies.
As an alternative to oxygen therapy, shock wave therapy can be performed, especially in the early stages of the disease. In this treatment method of M. Ahlbäck, short high-energy current pulses are directed into the affected knee joint. The shock wave therapy can have both a metabolism-promoting and a regenerating effect on the dead bone tissue.
Regeneration of the knee joint is also the focus of M. Ahlbäck’s surgical treatment methods. Various measures are used to provoke a healing reaction in the affected bone tissue and restore the stability of the knee joint. In patients with M. Ahlbäck’s disease in the early stages and/or in cases of low bone necrosis, the so-called repositioning osteotomy is the surgical method of choice.
In this procedure, the part of the joint space facing the center of the body is relieved. In addition, the affected knee can be drilled into in the course of Pridie drilling, thus stimulating the formation of new cartilage. For patients with an advanced course of the disease, this method is in most cases no longer an option.Alternatively, a sled prosthesis (surface replacement of the knee) can be inserted. Depending on the extent of Ahlbäck’s disease, it can be decided whether only one half of the knee joint (unicondylar sled prosthesis) or even both halves (bicondylar surface replacement) need to be replaced.
