Author/Editor		Aleksejev, Alenka
Title		Artroza kolena
Translated title		Osteoarthritis of the knee
Type		članek
Source		In: Židanik S, Tušek-Bunc K, Masten M, et al, editors. Fizikalna terapija v ambulanti zdravnika družinske medicine. Zbornik 2. mariborsko srečanje zdravnikov družinske medicine; 2002 nov 29-30; Maribor. Ljubljana: Slovensko zdravniško društvo, Združenje zdravnikov družinske medicine,
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 102-9
Language		slo
Abstract		Osteoarthitis is the most common joint disorder. Cartilage destruction is the core of osteoarthritis. The typical patient with osteorthritis of the knee is middleaged or elderly, fat women. A patient complains of a pain in the knee, which worsens with the use of the joint and is relieved with rest, and of instability or buckling, especially when the patient is descending stairs or stepping off curbs. Morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes is a common sign. On passive range of motion is felt crepitus. Radiographic features are loss of joint space and presence of osteophytes. Most blood tests are normal. The treatment of osteoarthritis should be individualized. A non-pharmacological treatment involves the patient's education and support, exercise, weight loss, joint protection. All patients with osteoarthritis of the knee should be taught quadricepsstrengthening exercises and should be encouraged to perform them every day. In pharmacologic treatments we use simple analgesics, nesteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs or cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, intra-articular corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections. If the response is inadequate, the patient may be treated with arthroscopic debridement or joint lavage, osteotomy or joint replacement.
Descriptors		PHYSICAL THERAPY OSTEOARTHRITIS KNEE JOINT ARTHRALGIA MUSCULAR ATROPHY JOINT INSTABILITY CRYOTHERAPY HYPERTHERMIA, INDUCED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ACETAMINOPHEN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS, NON-STEROIDAL ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES WORK CAPACITY EVALUATION