WHY DOES THE KNEE CLICK?

Clicking in the knee joint is a fairly common cause of patients turning to orthopaedic surgeon in Delhi. In some patients, these clicks are accompanied by pain, but in most cases, these clicks do not cause any extraneous sensations. Some patients may have a history of trauma to the knee joint, in most cases, patients do not remember anything like this. One fine day, the patient simply notices that his knee has begun to click. Treatment is not necessary in all such cases, but in some of them it can be indicated.

The vast majority of patients who notice clicks in the knee do not experience pain, so do not worry about it. There are a number of interesting scientific studies that show that patients who have their knees clicked become very anxious. They begin to worry that clicks in the knee joint will lead to rapid wear of the articular cartilage and degenerative damage to the knee joint. In fact, clicks in the knee joint in the vast majority of cases are caused by the movement of normal anatomical structures in the area of ​​the knee joint. And this means that you will not have any osteoarthritis as a result. A number of studies have shown that clicks can be caused by gas in the knee joint. This is not dangerous. Also, clicks can be caused by movement of joint fluid in the joint cavity, explains the orthopaedic in Delhi.

Now let’s talk about situations where clicks in the knee joint are accompanied by pain. Consider a number of the most common causes of this phenomenon.

WHAT CAUSES CLICKS IN THE KNEE JOINT?

Our knee joints are formed by three bones – the lower end of the femur, the upper end of the tibia and the patella. These bones are stabilized and held next to each other by a large number of ligaments. Movement in the knee joint is ensured by the coordinated work of powerful large muscles and tendons. Between the ends of the bones forming the knee joint are menisci, which are a kind of shock absorbers.

Any of the structures described may be damaged due to physical exertion, injury, or even due to normal wear and tear. Clicks in the knee joint can be caused by damage to almost any of the anatomical structures described above, explains the orthopaedic in Dwarka.

The most common causes of clicks and other extraneous mechanical sensations in the knee joint:

• Chondromalacia: This is a condition characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, such as the patella. As a result of degeneration, the normal smooth surface of the articular cartilage becomes uneven. When the uneven articular surface of the patella moves along the corresponding articular surface of the femur, clicks, noise, or crunching occur.
• Meniscus tears: between the joint ends of the femur and tibia in the knee joint are two menisci. The menisci resemble the letter “C” in shape and protect the articular surfaces of the bones that form the knee joint. When the meniscus is damaged, its torn fragment can cause clicks in the knee joint with certain movements.
• Cartilage defects: the bones forming the knee joint are covered with a thick and smooth layer of “articular cartilage”. Injuries and certain diseases, such as dissecting osteochondritis, can lead to defects in the cartilage layer. Such a damaged articular surface becomes uneven, as a result of which various mechanical sensations may appear, including clicks in the knee joint. This is not the most common cause of painful clicks in the knee joint.
• Dislocation of the patella. Dislocations of the patella are much more common than is commonly thought. If you have tucked up your foot and felt a click in the knee joint during any kind of sports, it is highly likely that the patella was dislocated. The patella is located in the groove on the anterior surface of the femur. Ideally, it should be located exactly in the center of this furrow. Sometimes the patella moves in the furrow in one direction or another, and sometimes it completely leaves it. Dislocation of the patella or a violation of its normal biomechanics is one of the most common causes of clicks in the knee joint. This is a very complex problem that requires a full examination by an orthopaedic doctor in Delhi who specializes in the problems of small tracking and instability of the patella.
• Syndrome of a pathological synovial fold: the synovial fold is a fold of the inner lining of the knee joint. Many people have such folds, but they are relatively infrequent cause clicks and pain in the knee joint. Over time or as a result of repeated loads, these folds can thicken and become inflamed, causing painful clicks in the knee joint.
• Osteoarthritis: This is a degeneration or “thinning” of the articular cartilage. Normal articular cartilage is an incredible smooth and even tissue. As osteoarthritis progresses, the surface of the cartilage becomes more and more uneven. Sometimes such cartilage can even peel off from the underlying bone, resulting in a cartilage defect. Any irregularities in the articular surfaces can cause clicks in the knee joint during movement.

If such simple means as a pressure bandage, muscle stretching and temporary limitation of physical activity do not bring the desired effect, it makes sense to consult an orthopaedic doctor in Dwarka.

There are other, less common causes of clicks in the knee joint. The causes described above usually cause not only clicks, but also pain in the knee joint. If clicks in your knee are accompanied by pain, we recommend that you consult your doctor.

For many of us, these clicks are completely painless. Sometimes their causes remain unknown. In many situations, these clicks can be considered a “norm” that does not require any treatment, says the orthopaedic in Delhi.

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