Drug treatment

Taking tablets

Anti-inflammatory medicinal products are primarily prescribed to achieve the quick reduction of knee joint swelling and contusions and thereby also the relief or elimination of pain.

Puncture and injection

In the event of a major contusion of the knee joint the joint needs to be punctured (with local anaesthesia) to relieve the pressure. This can be followed immediately by an injection with a cortisone preparation into the joint.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid from the cells of the joint's interior lining gives the joint lubricant its "viscous elasticity". This effect impacts cushioning in the joint. In the event of inflammatory conditions due to trauma or arthrosis the concentration of the hyaluronic acid in the joint fluid (synovia) drops. Clinical symptoms with impaired joint function occur. By injecting hyaluronic acid several times directly into the joint, the nutrition of the cartilage layer and can be improved and the amount of joint fluid increased. This produces effective pain reduction and restoration of mobility restriction because of pain. The injection is administered with minor anaesthesia of the skin and does normally not cause any pain. 5 injections each one week apart are required to achieve the full concentration and effect. Studies have shown that the therapeutic effect may last up to 12 months, in some cases even longer.

Radiosynoviorthesis

In the event of pronounced swelling conditions that cannot be significantly reduced through repeated punctures and accompanying drug and physical therapy and where surgical intervention is not yet indicated, radiosynoviorthesis can be performed. At this, a colleague from the X-ray department injects a radioactive drug into the knee joint. As a result, the inflamed interior lining of the joint is largely eliminated.