Can the widened joint space be restored?

Joint space is a common symptom, which is most likely caused by synovitis. Synovitis is also a relatively serious disease. After the disease occurs, you need to go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time, otherwise it will cause more serious damage to your joints. Below, we will introduce in detail the clinical manifestations, treatment methods and other related knowledge of synovitis!

1. Overview

Synovitis refers to a joint disease in which the synovium is stimulated and becomes inflamed, causing secretion disorders and the formation of effusion. There are two common types of synovitis: nonspecific synovitis and specific synovitis. The knee joint has the most synovium in the whole body, so synovitis is more common in the knee joint. When the joints are affected by extrinsic and intrinsic factors, the synovium reacts, causing congestion or edema, and exudation of fluid, which manifests as joint swelling, pain, joint effusion, limited movement, etc. If not treated in time, it will affect the normal movement of the joints, cause damage to the joints or even cause disability.

2. Clinical manifestations

The onset can be slow or acute, with symptoms including pain and swelling in the knee joint, increased local temperature and limited joint movement. The severity of symptoms is related to the nature of the disease and the amount of fluid effusion in the joints. When the knee is actively flexed, the pain worsens and there is a feeling of swelling. During the examination, the tenderness point was not fixed and the floating patella test was positive.

Chronic synovitis presents as knee pain and swelling that is more pronounced with increased activity. When examining the knee joint movement, friction can be felt and a thickened bursa can be palpated. Most patients have quadriceps atrophy. Floating patella test was positive.

3. Treatment Methods

1. Early treatment

Treatment is generally with rest and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

2. Fixation

If the affected limb is immobilized, the immobilization time should not be too long to avoid severe muscle atrophy and joint stiffness, and functional exercises should be performed under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Manual therapy

Manual therapy is usually used to improve joint function and has no direct therapeutic effect on synovitis.

4. Functional exercise

The main purpose of functional exercise is to delay the complications of functional impairment and muscle atrophy caused by synovitis.

5. Surgery

For cases that fail to respond to conservative treatment or where the diagnosis is unclear, arthroscopy and arthroscopic synovectomy should be actively considered.