What is suprapatellar bursitis of the knee? Symptoms and treatment, as well as the main causes of the development of the mentioned pathology, will be discussed below. You will also learn about the features of this disease and its diagnosis.
General information
The knee joint in the human body is the largest and also the most complex articulation. It includes many auxiliary elements, which include bursae, or synovial bags. According to experts, such parts of the joint are very vulnerable, subject to frequent injury and infection, resulting in bursitis.
What is bursitis?
What is suprapatellar bursitis of the knee? In modern medicine, bursitis is an inflammatory disease that develops in the mucous periarticular bags and at the same time forms an effusion. Such a pathology often leads to limited mobility, as well as a decrease in the patient's ability to work.
If the synovial cavity is inflamed above the joint, then the so-calledsuprapatellar bursitis of the knee. At the same time, the largest bursa of the knee is involved in the pathological process.
Burses are called narrow slit-like cavities that are enclosed in a shell. They are located between parts of some bones and tissues, that is, muscles, skin, fascia and tendons. At the same time, the bursae are filled with mucous fluid, which plays a protective, buffering, barrier and trophic role in the knee joint.
Suprapatellar bursitis of the knee joint is a fairly common disease. This is due to the fact that the synovial fluid is extremely sensitive and always reacts to any changes in the joint, causing an inflammatory reaction.
Main reasons for development
Why does suprapatellar bursitis of the knee occur, the photo of which is presented in this article? There are many reasons for the development of this disease. The most common of them include the following:
- infection of synovitis cavities through open injuries, including abrasions and cuts;
- mechanical damage of a closed type, including trauma, bruises, compression and impact;
- high overvoltage and stress on the joints (especially typical for athletes and representatives of a number of professions);
- development of allergic, inflammatory, metabolic and autoimmune diseases.
Other reasons
In addition to the main causes of development, suprapatellar bursitis of the knee joint can also occur due to the followingstates:
- due to the presence of concomitant diseases of the joints of a chronic nature (including gout, arthritis);
- due to prolonged exertion in the form of prolonged kneeling (another name for this disease sounds like "nun's knee");
- due to deformity of the joints, which was caused by low physical activity and excess weight.
Onset of an acute illness
How does synovitis become inflamed? Suprapatellar bursitis of the knee joint and inflammation of sanovitis can develop quickly and gradually. It depends on the cause of the pathological process. Acute bursitis is characterized by classic signs, which include hyperemia, severe pain and swelling.
Thus, diagnosing suprapatellar bursitis of the knee (only an experienced specialist should treat this disease) is not difficult at all, especially in an acute clinic. Outwardly, this pathology is manifested by edema of various sizes, as well as redness of the skin. At the same time, pressing on the inflamed area, the person feels obvious pain.
Another equally important symptom of the disease in question is a significant limitation of joint mobility.
It should also be said that the purulent process occurring in the knee joint is often accompanied by a sudden rise in body temperature, acute pain, redness and severe swelling. At the same time, active as well as passive movement in the joint is practically impossible.
According toaccording to experts, with untimely or incorrect treatment of this pathology, complications such as abscess and phlegmon may develop.
Signs in the chronic course of the disease
How does chronic suprapatellar bursitis of the knee manifest? The symptoms and treatment of this disease are discussed below.
In the pathological process of a chronic course, the clinical picture of the disease changes slightly. The fluid in the inflamed joint bag does not accumulate immediately, but gradually. In this case, the existing pain syndrome may periodically weaken. As for the walls of the mucous bag, they thicken. At the same time, small whitish plaques form on their inner surface. Over time, they separate and end up right in the articular bag, representing foreign bodies.
General symptoms of the disease
What are the symptoms of knee bursitis? Like any inflammatory disease, such a pathology can occur in acute and chronic forms. But both the first and the second course are characterized by the same symptoms:
- Pain. As a rule, the feeling of discomfort increases with the movements of the lower extremities, especially in the knees.
- Puffiness. The knee with bursitis swells completely. There may also be only slight swelling. This is due to the accumulation of fluid in the periarticular bag or joint.
- The "sound" of the knee. Sounds such as crunching and clicking when bending the leg are very commonindicate the development of progressive inflammation.
- Decreased motor activity of the patient. This happens due to increasing pain when moving.
Also, the general inflammatory symptoms of knee bursitis include an increase in the patient's body temperature and malaise. If a person's condition noticeably worsens, then this indicates the infectious nature of the inflammation, which requires urgent medical attention.
Diagnostic process
How is suprapatellar bursitis of the knee joint diagnosed (treatment with folk remedies for this disease is practiced very often)? First, the specialist must examine the patient. This type of diagnosis of superficial bursitis is very popular, since in many cases this disease is detected purely visually.
The patient is also given a clinical blood test.
To confirm their guesses and clarify the diagnosis, some specialists use the following instrumental methods:
- Infrared CT is a graphical method that is based on identifying foci of the inflammatory process by changing the temperature of the painful area.
- X-ray examination. It includes contrast and plain radiography.
- Ultrasound is the safest, but quite informative method.
It cannot be said that for diagnostic purposes under strict aseptic conditions, the patient may be prescribed a puncture of the articular capsule with further aspiration of exudate forcytological and bacteriological research. In the course of such an analysis, the causative agent of the disease is isolated and its sensitivity to antibiotics is determined.
Suprapatellary bursitis of the knee: drug treatment
When knee bursitis develops, specialists often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Ketaprofen), as well as hormonal drugs (eg, oral glucocorticoids or in the form of intra-articular injections).
In addition, people with the disease in question can be recommended chondroprotectors in the form of local therapy, anti-inflammatory ointments, creams and compresses. Also, with bursitis, drugs are often prescribed to improve blood circulation and the intake of vitamin-mineral complexes.
Surgical intervention and alternative treatment
Unfortunately, many patients treat suprapatellar bursitis of the knee joint with folk remedies. However, experts say that this approach rarely leads to positive results. At the same time, doctors stipulate that alternative medicine with such a diagnosis should be used together with classical methods. If you use only alternative treatment, then the patient may experience serious complications. In this case, the operation will be shown to him:
- with bursitis - remove the bursa (that is, the periarticular bag);
- with synovitis - partial or complete synovectomy is performed.
It should be especially noted that complications after surgery are quite rare. In this case, the patient's motor activity is restored within a few weeks.
