Knee Osteoarthritis (Gonarthrosis) in Hauts-de-Seine
Knee Surgery
What Is Knee Osteoarthritis (Gonarthrosis)?
Dr Simon Tournemine in Hauts-de-Seine (92)
Knee osteoarthritis, also known as gonarthrosis, is a degenerative joint disease affecting the articulation between the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone) and the patella (kneecap). It begins with the gradual deterioration of the articular cartilage before progressively involving all of the structures that make up the knee joint. As the condition advances, it leads to pain, stiffness and a progressive loss of knee mobility.
The disease typically progresses in cycles, characterised by:
- chronic phases, during which pain remains relatively stable and moderate;
- acute flare-ups lasting several weeks, associated with significant pain and inflammation of the joint.
Knee osteoarthritis usually develops slowly over many years, resulting in progressively increasing pain and growing difficulty with walking and other everyday activities.
Degenerative joint disease is extremely common. Approximately 80% of people over the age of 80 are affected by osteoarthritis.
Causes and Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis (Gonarthrosis)
Knee Surgery Specialist in Hauts-de-Seine (92)
Knee osteoarthritis may be classified as either primary, when no specific anatomical abnormality or previous injury is identified, or secondary, when it develops as a consequence of an underlying deformity, injury or medical condition.
Primary knee osteoarthritis is associated with several recognised risk factors, including:
- Age: osteoarthritis most commonly develops after the age of 60, with its prevalence increasing progressively over time.
- Repeated mechanical loading of the knee joint: frequent heavy lifting or intensive sporting activity may accelerate joint wear.
- Overweight and obesity.
- Sex: women are affected more frequently than men.
Secondary knee osteoarthritis may result from a number of underlying conditions, including:
- Knee dysplasia and lower limb deformities
- Anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries
- Meniscal tears
- Osteonecrosis
- Fractures involving the femur or tibia
- Inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Knee Osteoarthritis (Gonarthrosis) in Rueil-Malmaison
Knee Surgery in Hauts-de-Seine
Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis
Gradually increasing knee pain is often the first sign of osteoarthritis. The pain may involve the entire knee and can radiate into the thigh or lower leg. Symptoms typically worsen during physical activity, walking or climbing stairs and improve with rest. Morning stiffness is also common and usually requires a short period of movement before the joint becomes more comfortable.
As the disease progresses, persistent pain may lead to limping, and some patients may require the use of a walking stick. Everyday activities such as bending to pick objects up from the floor, climbing stairs, getting out of a car or putting on socks may become increasingly difficult.
The condition generally progresses slowly, with painful flare-ups alternating with periods of relative symptom relief.
Preventing Knee Osteoarthritis
Although knee osteoarthritis cannot always be prevented, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce risk factors and slow disease progression. Maintaining a balanced diet together with regular physical activity plays an important role in preserving joint health.
Excess body weight increases the mechanical load placed on the knee joint, accelerating cartilage wear and contributing to pain. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce pressure on the joint, improve symptoms and help slow disease progression.
In everyday life, it is important to protect a painful joint while remaining physically active. Regular exercise helps strengthen the muscles surrounding the knee while maintaining joint flexibility. Good muscle strength and preserved mobility contribute to improved joint function. Muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises are particularly beneficial, together with low-impact activities such as walking, cycling and swimming.
Diagnosis of Knee Osteoarthritis
The clinical assessment evaluates the patient’s symptoms and the impact of the condition on daily activities and independence, including walking distance, climbing stairs and dressing. The examination also assesses the presence of a limp, knee range of motion and muscle bulk.
Standard weight-bearing X-rays of both knees are used to confirm the diagnosis. Typical radiographic findings include:
- narrowing of the joint space caused by progressive cartilage loss;
- increased bone density beneath the cartilage (subchondral sclerosis);
- abnormal bony projections around the joint, known as osteophytes.
Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
There is currently no treatment capable of curing knee osteoarthritis. However, several therapeutic options can effectively relieve symptoms and help slow disease progression. Initial management is based on conservative treatment, including weight management, maintaining regular physical activity, and the use of medications such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to provide temporary pain relief. Corticosteroid injections into the knee joint may also reduce pain, although they do not treat the underlying osteoarthritis.
Slow-acting symptomatic drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs) have not demonstrated proven clinical benefit in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and are not reimbursed by the French National Health Insurance system.
When conservative treatment no longer provides satisfactory pain relief or functional improvement, knee replacement surgery may be recommended. This procedure replaces the damaged joint surfaces with artificial components. Depending on the pattern and extent of cartilage wear, either a partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement or a total knee replacement may be appropriate.
