Haemarthrosis of the knee joint. Treatment

A hemarthrosis is a hemorrhage in the joint. Most often the disease is localized in the knee, although there are cases of damage to the wrist, elbow, ankle, hip joint. Hemarthrosis of the knee joint is characterized by a smooth contour, an increase in the joint volume, acute pain, limited mobility. Continuous bleeding stretches the joint capsule, which only increases pain. When probing the joint, a fluctuation (swelling) is felt. Inside the joint, there may be fragments of cartilage heads or shattered menisci. The skin covering the joint, as a rule, has a cyanotic color and is tense.

Hemarthrosis of the knee joint develops as a result of injuries: bruises, fractures, dislocations, meniscus injuries, ruptures of the joint capsule.

With hemarthrosis, blood circulation is disrupted and pressure within the joint increases. The disintegration of blood cells negatively affects neighboring tissues, changing their characteristics and properties. The process begins with a change in the smooth cartilage, and in the absence of treatment, the joint can completely collapse. In the joint begins to form scar tissue, which accumulates and leads to irreversible phenomena.

If proper treatment is not carried out, hemarthrosis of the knee joint can go to the chronic stage with the subsequent development of synovitis, characterized by accumulation in the joint effusion. If an infection occurs, a purulent synovitis occurs, accompanied by a rise in temperature.

Haemarthrosis of the knee joint, the treatment of which involves several methods, requires a timely call to the doctor. If you go to the hospital at the very first sign of the disease, you can avoid the immobility of the joint and possible serious complications.

Treatment of hemarthrosis consists in the removal of blood from the joint, washing and a single injection of the drug, which eliminates bleeding, inflammation and pain.

The most common method is puncture, removal of blood from the joint and the administration of hydrocortisone or kenalog, which relieve inflammation and reduce pain. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Blood from the joint is withdrawn by a syringe, for which a thin needle is inserted into its cavity. Then on a joint impose a hard bandage in the form of a ring for two-three weeks. Such treatment should be carried out immediately after the outflow of blood, then it is possible to completely restore mobility and maintain a healthy joint. The disadvantage of such treatment is the creation of negative pressure in the joint cavity, which leads to the resumption of bleeding. In addition, the removal of blood by a syringe is never complete, which can lead to damage to ligaments and cartilage due to the development of antigenic activity. Especially effective is the first hemorrhage. Repeated cases of hemarthrosis are more difficult to treat, since ligaments and cartilage have already undergone degenerative changes.

There is another way of performing a puncture. At the same time, the main part of the blood is removed from the joint first, then the medicine is injected for lavage into the same puncture. Next, make a new puncture with another needle and suck out the liquid injected for rinsing. During the withdrawal of the fluid, the joint is contracted by a circular elastic dressing, and in the joint there are two needles at once. The procedure lasts until in the fluid extracted from the joint, there are no bloody impurities. Then the withdrawal needle is removed, and through another needle is administered the medicine prescribed by the doctor. After this, a tight bandage is applied to the joint. This method reduces the likelihood of negative pressure and reduces the possibility of repeated bleeding.

After the puncture, you should walk on crutches, so as not to lean on your aching leg.

How to treat a started hemarthrosis? Treatment consists in prosthetics, in which the replacement of the present joint is artificial. The prosthesis is made of materials compatible with living tissues, for example, from a titanium alloy and Teflon, which are not rejected by the body.

To prevent bleeding, use drugs that improve blood clotting.

In order that hemarthrosis of the knee joint does not happen, you must always be careful when playing sports and protect joints.