Gonarthrosis, or knee arthrosis, is a degenerative condition of the knee joint, characterized by progressive wear of the articular cartilage. The knee is the largest joint in the body and is made up of the femur, tibia and kneecap, supported by strong ligaments and coated with hyaline cartilage, which ensures the bones glide smoothly. The joint is lubricated by synovial fluid, which reduces friction.

Causes: Cartilage wear can be favored by vârstă, lower limb spinal anomalies, obesity, trauma, genetic inheritance or inflammatory diseases. Depending on the shape of the leg (genu varum or valgum), one compartment of the knee is more stressed than the others, resulting in unicompartmental arthrosis or tricompartmental.

Symptom: Localized pain in the knee, swelling, joint popping, rigidity, instability, muscle atrophy and progressively limiting mobility. In advanced stages, major walking difficulties occur, affecting other joints (hip, spine, opposite knee).

Medical assessment: Includes analysis of frequency of analgesic use, pain-free walking distance, nocturnal pain and impact on daily life. Radiography shows narrowing of the joint space, osteophyte, osteosclerosis or geode. Other investigations (MRI, CT) are recommended on a case-by-case basis.

Conservative treatment: Includes anti-inflammatory medication, chondroprotective, intra-articular infiltrations, medical recovery, fighting obesity and physiotherapy. They can slow the progression of the disease and temporarily relieve symptoms, but they do not stop arthritis.

Surgical treatment: It is considered when pain and functional limitation become major. If an area of the knee is affected osteotomy. In advanced cases, it is recommended knee arthroplasty (partial or total prosthesis) to restore the joint's functionality.

When surgery is needed: Gonarthrosis is a mechanical problem and conservative treatments cannot correct structural deformities. The surgical decision depends on the degree of damage, the patient's age, lifestyle and expectations. A detailed discussion with the orthopaedic surgeon is essential for choosing the right time for surgery.