Gonalgia or Knee Pain is one of the most frequent symptoms in Orthopaedics

It can originate from a traumatic episode, such as a sprain or direct trauma, or be degenerative, i.e. the result of wear and tear on the joint. This wear and tear on the joint is called arthrosis. There are several risk factors, including older age, being overweight and being female.

The main complaint is pain when walking, which often prevents the person from leading a normal life. Associated with the pain may be stiffness in the joint, which prevents normal flexion and extension of the knee (the person is unable to bend or extend the knee completely). It usually worsens progressively, leading to significant limitations and disabilities. Active people who walk or run may stop doing so because they feel pain.

It is at this time of greatest suffering that people turn to the Orthopaedic Consultation dedicated to the Knee. After an assessment of the complaints, a careful and rigorous physical examination, accompanied by appropriate complementary diagnostic means, the diagnosis of Gonarthrosis, or Knee Arthrosis, is made and the therapeutic process begins. Initial treatment consists of taking painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles and weight loss where applicable.

When identified at an early stage, gonarthrosis can also be treated with joint infiltrations of hyaluronic acid or viscosupplementation (“lubrication” of the knee), which helps to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. In cases where conservative treatment fails, other options become available, including surgical treatment.

Although age is a risk factor, gonarthrosis also affects young patients (40 – 60 years old). These are active people, often with demanding jobs, who receive the news that “You’re going to need a prosthesis, but you’re still too young”, and are “condemned” to suffer and put up with it until a later age.

However, after a thorough study, therapeutic alternatives can be identified, namely: Partial Prostheses (only of one compartment of the knee) or Osteotomies. Gonarthrosis is often the result of overloading due to misalignment of the lower limb (varus or valgus), causing only one compartment of the knee to be affected, which shows accelerated wear and tear. People with bowed legs or inward knees are subject to this type of overload, which can lead to symptoms of pain and limitation on the inside or outside of the knee at a young age.

Identifying this deformity can direct treatment towards a more conservative, minimally invasive surgery that preserves the native knee joint without the need for replacement (Prosthesis).

This surgery, called an osteotomy, is a challenging operation in which a precise cut is made in the bone and the deviation of the limb is corrected, leading to an improvement in symptoms and the possibility of resuming recreational and work activities with a high degree of satisfaction. More and more people are benefiting from this type of treatment. In some cases, the need for a knee replacement in the future can even be avoided.

If you have knee symptoms that prevent you from leading a normal life, see an orthopaedic surgeon dedicated to knee pathology for a proper diagnosis and treatment.