Sclerosis of articular surfaces with marginal bone growths. What is and how to treat subchondral sclerosis? Causes of development of subchondral sclerosis

Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are distinguished by a variety of symptomatic complexes. Subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces is one of these syndromes that does not develop as an independent disease, but against the background of other serious pathologies.

More often than others, radiographic images reveal subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces of the hip joints, which is a typical clinical sign of impaired blood supply to the periosteum of the acetabulum and the head of the femur. In this case, the patient may experience pain in the hip area, radiating to the groin, buttocks and knee.

In second place in terms of prevalence is subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces of the knee joint; it is often associated with deforming osteoarthritis, incorrect foot placement and cicatricial deformity of the ankle joint ligaments.

The pathology develops with constant compression exerted by cartilage tissue on the endplate. It is located directly between the head of the bone and the cartilage fibers of the synovial tissue. If synovial cartilage tissue has a sufficient level of hygroscopicity, then it protects the endplates from excessive shock-absorbing pressure when performing various movements.

If, against the background of a violation of diffuse nutrition, dehydration of the cartilage tissue occurs and it loses its shock-absorbing properties, then gradual compression destruction of the endplate begins. As a result, tissue degeneration occurs, replacing it with scar cells and fibrous fibers. This is how sclerosis develops. The term subchondral refers to the location just below the layer of cartilage (chondral tissue).

Treatment of this syndrome is possible only in combination with therapy for the underlying disease. If efforts are directed only at relieving the clinical symptoms of subchondral sclerosis, then no positive results can be obtained.

If, during an X-ray examination, subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces was discovered, then begin treatment immediately. This condition quickly leads to secondary destruction of bone tissue. This entails the formation of bone growths and cracks on the surface of the bone head.

You can contact our manual therapy clinic. Here, each patient has the opportunity to receive a completely free consultation with an orthopedist. This doctor will conduct an examination, review medical documentation, make a diagnosis and tell you about the possibilities and prospects of treatment using manual therapy methods.

Causes of subchondral sclerosis

Basically, subchondral sclerosis is an age-related degenerative change in the structural tissues of the body. Over the age of 50 years, this condition is detected in almost half of patients. But at a younger age, subchondral sclerosis is a clinical sign of degeneration and tissue dystrophy, as a result of which osteoarthritis or deforming arthrosis may soon develop.

The causes of subchondral sclerosis may be the following aspects of negative impact:

• problems of blood supply at the capillary level (for example, when the tone of the vascular wall is disturbed);
• endocrine disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus, leading to angiopathy and neuropathy, weakened blood supply);
• disruption of the immune system with the development of reactive inflammatory processes;
• rheumatoid disorders;
• systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and psoriasis;
• pathologies of metabolic processes, for example, uric acid with the development of gout;
• traumatic compression effects (for example, complex injuries to soft tissues with the formation of an extensive internal hematoma);
• contractures and other complications after fractures and cracks of articular surfaces.

The following factors can lead to the development of subchondral sclerosis:

• excess body weight, the higher it is, the greater the shock-absorbing load is on the articular surfaces in terms of their compression (squeezing);
• incorrect placement of the foot (clubfoot or flatfoot negatively affects the condition of the ankle, knee and hip joint);
• tunnel syndromes leading to disruption of innervation in large joints;
• increased physical activity;
• practicing active sports without the use of special equipment, including orthoses and protective bandages.

Hereditary predisposition may lead to the fact that subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces begins to develop at a fairly young age. Therefore, it is difficult to exclude the negative impact of a genetic factor. The development of this factor is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, incorrect choice of shoes and clothing, pregnancy and chronic intoxication of the body. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages accelerate the process of destruction of articular surfaces and the development of subchondral sclerosis.

Subchondral sclerosis of the acetabulum of the hip joint

When diagnosing a condition such as subchondral joint sclerosis, pathological changes are most often observed in the area of ​​the largest joint of bones in the human body.

Subchondral sclerosis of the hip joint is the initial stage of development of deforming osteoarthritis. With the development of subchondral sclerosis of the acetabulum at the initial stage, patients do not experience any discomfort. However, after some time, pain occurs in the upper thigh area. It can be associated with physical activity and prolonged standing.

With long-term development, subchondral sclerosis of the acetabulum of the hip joint gives the following clinical symptoms:

1. stiffness of movement in the morning, immediately after waking up;
2. sharp pain in the area of ​​the femoral head;
3. constant nagging pain in the sacrum area, radiating to the groin and thigh areas;
4. during long walking, cramps in the calf muscles may occur due to insufficient blood supply;
5. with total narrowing of the joint space, tunnel syndrome occurs and clinical signs of neuropathy appear;
6. restless legs syndrome, which manifests itself in the fact that when trying to sleep at night, the patient cannot find a comfortable position for his legs;
7. dysfunction of the large intestine, expressed in the form of persistent atonic constipation, followed by long periods of diarrhea;
8. urinary retention or overactive bladder;
9. lameness, changes in gait, gradual loss of the ability to move independently in space.

Diagnosis of subchondral syndrome begins with a thorough examination and diagnostic functional tests. Then the doctor prescribes x-rays and, if necessary, MRI and CT examinations.

Subchondral sclerosis of the knee and ankle joint

Primary subchondral sclerosis of the knee can develop due to improper foot placement and deformation of the ligamentous apparatus. Often the syndrome is associated with inflammation of the menisci and their proliferation. About half of cases of primary subchondral sclerosis are associated with inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis).

The signs are very similar to the clinical symptoms of destruction of the articular surfaces in the acetabulum of the hip joint. Soreness, increased fatigue of the calf muscles, lameness and gait disturbance are the main manifestations.

Subchondral sclerosis of the ankle joint can be diagnosed in young people who lead an active lifestyle and are fond of outdoor sports. As a result of increased physical activity, they often experience various soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and tears of ligaments and tendons. As a result of their improper treatment, fibrous scar tissue develops. It interferes with normal blood supply at the capillary level. Insufficient supply of arterial blood to the articular surfaces leads to deformation and the development of subchondral sclerosis.

Subchondral sclerosis of the joint spaces of the foot

One of the most severe types of pathology is subchondral sclerosis of the foot - a condition in which there is an increased risk of deforming osteoarthritis of small joints between the phalanges, metatarsal bones, etc. Subchondral sclerosis of the joint spaces in the foot area develops for the following reasons:

• wearing incorrectly selected shoes (high heels, with a deformed last, after a person with incorrect foot placement);
• clubfoot and flatfoot, which result in displacement of the small bones of the foot; the wedge-shaped and metatarsals are more affected;
• compression of the leg;
• rheumatoid processes;
• diabetic foot;
• disturbance of blood microcirculation due to increased platelet aggregation.

Diagnosis of this syndrome is carried out using x-rays. it can reveal a narrowing of the joint spaces, a displacement of the small bones of the foot relative to each other.

Subchondral sclerosis of the shoulder joint

Subchondral sclerosis of the shoulder joint is a condition that can accompany osteoarthritis, habitual dislocation of the shoulder, sprain of the ligamentous apparatus, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, glenohumeral periarteritis and a number of other pathologies.

Subchondral sclerosis of the shoulder joint manifests itself in the form of the following clinical symptoms:

• nagging unpleasant pain in the shoulder and forearm;
• inability to fully straighten the arm at the elbow joint;
• difficulty when trying to lift the upper limb in the lateral plane;
• decreased muscle strength on the affected side;
• feeling of cold, pale skin.

If such symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor and take a series of x-rays. If it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis, your doctor may recommend an MRI examination.

Treatment of subchondral sclerosis

To treat subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces, it is important to restore blood microcirculation and improve the condition of cartilage tissue. Of the modern pharmacological drugs, not a single drug is able to perform such a task.

Treatment with manual therapy can achieve positive results. Our manual therapy clinic uses the following techniques:

1. osteopathy and massage restore microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid in the area of ​​the affected joint;
2. reflexology will start the process of natural regeneration of damaged tissues;
3. therapeutic exercises and kinesiotherapy improve the condition of muscle tissue, which provides complete diffuse nutrition to all cartilaginous fibers of the joint;
4. laser exposure accelerates the healing process and prevents the development of deforming osteoarthritis;
5. Physical therapy can improve joint mobility and prevent the appearance of fibrous scar tissue.

If you need treatment for subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces, you can make an appointment with an orthopedist at our manual therapy clinic. The doctor will conduct an examination, make a diagnosis and tell you how to carry out comprehensive effective treatment. The first consultation is provided to all patients free of charge.

Without special education, it is sometimes quite difficult to understand the intricacies of medical terminology. For example, there are not so many people who understand what subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces of the spine is. Let's try to explain it in an accessible language that everyone can understand.

Subchondral sclerosis of the elbow, shoulder, knee, hip or any other joint and endplates of the vertebral bodies is not a separate disease, but a manifestation of the disease that can be determined using x-ray examination. The pathological process affects the subchondral bone, leading to serious structural changes in it. Most often it is observed in old age, but sometimes it also occurs in young people whose professional activities involve high stress on the joints.

Standard radiography allows us to assess the extent of damage to the subchondral bone.

Causes

As a rule, subchondral sclerosis develops in diseases such as spinal osteochondrosis. It is worth noting that the pathological process is chronic and progressive. It is quite natural that what leads to the development of arthrosis and osteochondrosis can be considered the cause of the appearance of subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints. Provoking factors include the following:

• Trauma and damage to the musculoskeletal system.
• Obesity.
• Elderly age.
• Sedentary work and sedentary lifestyle.
• Endocrine pathology (diabetes mellitus).
• Burdened heredity.
• Congenital malformations ().
• Diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders (gout).
• Lack of minerals and vitamins in the body.

Professional athletes, dancers, ballerinas, and construction workers are at risk for arthrosis. By eliminating provoking factors, you can avoid the occurrence of pathological changes in the musculoskeletal system.

Without comprehensive effective treatment, subchondral sclerosis of the endplates of the vertebrae and joints will inevitably progress.

Features of development

As mentioned earlier, subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints is not a separate disease, but only a clinical symptom. Depending on the stage of the pathological process, corresponding manifestations will be observed in the articular surfaces of the bones. Based on X-ray data, several degrees of severity are distinguished:

• First. It is also called the initial stage. There is a proliferation of bone tissue (), but the joint space remains unchanged. The patient notices that there is some degree of limited mobility in the affected joint or part of the spinal column.
• Second. The advanced stage will be characterized by intensive growth of bone tissue. In addition, a narrowing of the joint space is recorded. At this stage, the patient will experience significant limitations in mobility, which will undoubtedly affect professional activities and self-care at home.
• Third. At an extremely pronounced stage, there is a serious deformation of the joint, which is practically destroyed. Intra-articular structures are changed beyond recognition. At the third degree of severity there will be complete loss of function.

By preventing the appearance of arthrosis and osteochondrosis, you will protect yourself from subchondral sclerosis of the endplates of the vertebral bodies and joints.

Treatment

The set of therapeutic measures for subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints is similar to that for osteochondrosis. The main goal of therapy is to eliminate all clinical manifestations of the pathological process and stop the progression of degenerative changes. The therapeutic course is selected individually, taking into account the patient’s condition and the severity of subchondral sclerosis. Today, the main treatment methods are:

1. Drug therapy.
2. Physiotherapy.
3. Manual therapy and therapeutic massage.

Subchondral endplate sclerosis can occur in any part of the spine: cervical, thoracic or lumbar.

Drug therapy

If the patient experiences pain, then in most cases nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac, Voltaren, Ibuprofen, Ketorol, Dexalgin, Flamadex) are prescribed. Do not forget that prolonged and uncontrolled use of NSAIDs can lead to serious consequences. One of the most common side effects is erosive and ulcerative damage to the gastrointestinal tract. The use of any drug should be discussed with your doctor.

In the early stages, when degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints are not yet too pronounced, chondroprotectors have a positive effect. Their long-term use makes it possible to slow down destructive processes and stimulate restoration processes in cartilage tissue. The most popular types of chondroprotectors:

• Chondroitin sulfate.
• Structum.
• Rumalon.
• Arteparon.

Physiotherapy

For subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints, various methods of physiotherapy are highly effective. When there are no clinical signs of inflammation and severe pain, several types of treatment are usually used: physiotherapy, exercise and relaxing massage. In addition, manual therapy has proven its effectiveness in various pathologies of the spinal column and joints. In some cases, special devices may be used to develop joint mobility. This treatment is called mechanotherapy.

It should be noted that therapeutic exercises and massage are recommended to be performed regularly and at home. A set of physical exercises should be prescribed by a specialist, taking into account the patient’s condition and the functional capabilities of his body. Exercise therapy will help improve joint mobility and strengthen the muscular-ligamentous system.

ethnoscience

Currently, there is no convincing evidence that folk remedies are effective for subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints. Most specialists are very skeptical about the use of folk remedies in this pathological process. If you still decide to use unconventional methods of therapy, it is better to first get approval from your doctor. Don’t forget, self-medication often ends with rather disastrous results.

Prevention

In order to prevent the occurrence of subchondral sclerosis of the spine and joints, it is necessary to prevent the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the musculoskeletal system, which are observed in diseases such as arthrosis and. Everyone is well aware that the importance of disease prevention cannot be overestimated. Therefore, you may not know what subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces of the spine and joint (elbow, knee, hip, etc.) is if you take the following preventive measures:

1. Regularly engage in active sports. Physical activity should be appropriate for age and health status. Even daily morning exercises will bear fruit.
2. Do not freeze or become overcooled. Joints should be kept warm.
3. Fighting excess weight. Large body weight only accelerates the progression of pathological changes in the spinal column and joints.


4. Avoid trauma to the musculoskeletal system. Constant microtraumas can have a detrimental effect on the joints.
5. Eat a balanced diet. Do not engage in diet therapy without consulting a specialist.
6. Take if necessary. These medications help restore cartilage tissue and protect joints from premature destruction.

When the first signs of damage to the musculoskeletal system appear, do not delay visiting a doctor. Arthrosis and osteochondrosis can be dealt with if you seek help in the early stages of the disease.

An unpleasant feeling of discomfort accompanied by joint pain is familiar to many people, especially the elderly. It happens that due to serious physical exertion, such manifestations are periodic and short-term in nature. In such cases, you can cope with them yourself with the help of various painkillers. But when joint problems develop into a serious illness, a person is forced to consult a doctor.

Among the variety of diseases affecting the joints, a disease such as subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces deserves special attention. With this pathology, degenerative processes develop in cartilage or bone tissue. As a result, the articular surface undergoes serious changes. By and large, subchondral sclerosis cannot be considered an independent disease. This is rather an X-ray symptom, indicating that the cause of this disease is other pathologies of a degenerative-dystrophic nature occurring in the body. Therefore, it is quite difficult to get rid of subchondral sclerosis without treating the underlying disease.

In subchondral sclerosis, due to inflammation, injury or aging of the body, the connective tissue of the joint is affected. As a result, the density of bone tissue increases, and the bone itself grows. This pathological process leads to the appearance of irregularities on the articular surface and the formation of bone outgrowths - osteophytes. The appearance of such irregularities increases friction, which causes pain. If the diagnosis is incorrect or treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, further growth of the outgrowths can block the joint and completely immobilize it.

According to the observations of doctors, subchondral sclerosis most often develops against the background of degenerative diseases such as arthrosis and. Of course, the causes of their occurrence and symptoms are somewhat different from each other, but arthrosis and osteochondrosis have one common feature: the development of these diseases, as a rule, always leads to the formation of osteophytes. Only with arthrosis, osteophytes form along the edges of the joints, and in the presence of osteochondrosis, bone outgrowths appear along the edges of the vertebrae.

Unfortunately, such formations, which characterize subchondral sclerosis, cannot be completely cured. With the help of drug therapy, you can only stop further progression of the disease and prevent the formation of new bone growths. Moreover, doctors involved in the treatment of this pathology extremely rarely resort to surgical intervention, since even surgery is not capable of radically changing the situation.

There are primary and secondary forms of development of subchondral sclerosis. In the primary form, pathological changes in the articular surface occur in a healthy joint. Pain syndrome occurs due to stress on the musculoskeletal system, and subsides during rest. In the secondary form of the disease, an already damaged joint after arthritis or trauma is affected. In most cases, subchondral sclerosis affects the ankle, knee and hip joints. The most dangerous consequences of this pathology are the formation of bone spurs and complete immobility.

Doctors note that the treatment process for subchondral sclerosis takes a long time and requires a lot of effort. In case of severe pain, the patient is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. The patient needs to regularly perform special exercises to improve blood circulation in the affected joints and flexibility of movement. In addition to the main measures of influence, hardware physiotherapy, acupuncture helps, semi-bed rest or orthopedic rest is possible.

One of the important conditions for the treatment of subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces is limiting physical activity. To reduce the likelihood of disease progression, it is necessary to monitor your own weight, since every extra kilogram significantly increases the load on the joint. Therefore, simultaneously with therapeutic measures, a dietary diet should be observed.

It is well known that joint pain is an inevitable manifestation of aging. Timely visits to doctors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help identify a dangerous disease at an early stage. You should not wait for the dangerous consequences that subchondral sclerosis often leads to. Take care of yourself!

The pathological process in articular tissue is not classified as a disease. It manifests itself during an X-ray examination of the patient and is a consequence of concomitant joint disease.

Subchondral sclerosis of articular surfaces is diagnosed in elderly patients. It is characterized by the death of living cells inside the human body, in their place connective tissue of a rough structure is formed.

It does not perform all the functionality, but only provides an auxiliary function. Sclerosis occurs when arthrosis and osteochondrosis are not treated in a timely manner.

Bone tissues are in contact with each other using articular tissue. Joints and cartilage, flexible and elastic, are responsible for smooth movement of the limbs. Under the cartilage tissue there is a subchondral plate on which it rests as a support.

When the plate is injured, osteophytes begin to form under the cartilage on the bone tissue. These are growths that prevent the limb from moving smoothly.

If a benign neoplasm is located at the edge, then the changes are minor and have little effect on functionality. If osteophytes grow and constrict the joint capsule, the mobility of the limb is limited, and the patient feels pain.

People carry out most movements in an upright position. In young patients, sclerosis of the hip joint is more often diagnosed. Articular and cartilaginous tissues wear out, affecting the plate, and it affects the bone tissues with subsequent deformation.

Osteosclerosis of the knee is more often diagnosed in older people. Symptoms with the development of pathology in them begin with pain and a decrease in the range of motion of the knee.

Carrying out an X-ray examination, 4 degrees of the pathological process are distinguished:

1. Osteophytes begin to grow along the edges of the bone tissue, without displacing the articular and cartilage tissue. The growths do not block the gap between the bones.
2. Osteophytes actively increase in size. Joint sclerosis is characterized by narrowing of the lumen and limitation of limb movement.
3. Sclerosis of the joint areas develops as quickly as possible. The osteophyte is large in size and completely covers the lumen of the bursa between the bones.
4. Benign bone growths block the gap. They go beyond the bones and begin to displace soft tissues.

Important! Osteosclerosis is clearly visible on x-rays. If you suspect the development of pathology in a patient against the background of a chronic disease of the joint tissue, you must contact a specialist for a referral for research.

Reasons for the development of pathology

Why does the pathological process develop:

Important! Joint damage in scleroderma occurs with age-related changes, genetic predisposition and excess body weight.

Symptoms of subchondral sclerosis depending on the location

If the patient has sclerosis of the small bones of the joints and the first degree of pathological change, then there are no symptoms. Symptoms begin to appear from the second stage of deformation, during which joint mobility begins to be lost.

In the third degree of damage, the cartilages are motionless. The bone tissue rubs against each other and causes severe pain to the patient. With the fourth degree of damage to the articular tissue, a person is assigned a stage of disability.

Symptoms of the pathology depending on the location:

Treatment of sclerosis

If the patient has been diagnosed with subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces, treatment consists of taking analgesic drugs that reduce pain.

These include:

In order to improve the condition of joint and cartilage tissue, the doctor prescribes medications with chondroitin and glucosamine.

Taking medications temporarily stops the pathological process, but does not completely restore functionality. Surgical intervention does not give a positive result that can stop the development of pathology. Experts recommend visiting a massage therapist, manual therapy courses and yoga.

By watching the video in this article, you can take a closer look at what subchondral sclerosis is and how it manifests itself in different areas of the articular tissue.

Subchondral endplate sclerosis is a disease of the skeletal system of a degenerative-dystrophic nature, which manifests itself in deformation and reactive growth of the subchondral bone.

Although this condition is not considered an independent disease, its presence indicates developed arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis and other conditions that, without treatment, can lead to disability.

Causes

The articular surfaces of bones (the rounded ends that form the joint) are covered with subchondral tissue, which is fused to bone on one side and cartilage on the other.

The subchondral bone contains a huge number of blood vessels and nerves, which is why this tissue is so important: cartilage, without its own blood supply, receives all the nutrients it needs from the underlying tissue.

But such “mutual assistance” of tissues is only possible if the subchondral bone is healthy. When the blood supply processes in it are disrupted, this tissue gradually becomes denser, deformed and, instead of providing nutrition to the cartilage, begins to destroy it.

The following circumstances may cause the development of pathology in the subchondral bone:

• prolonged inflammatory and/or degenerative process in the joint (arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteochondrosis, etc.);
• excessive loads on a joint or group of joints (professional sports, physical activity without complying with safety requirements, heavy physical activity without prior preparation of muscles and joints, etc.);
• excess body weight, in which the hip, knee, ankle joints, as well as the spine need to withstand weight for which they are not designed;
• autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders.

Risk factors

Risk factors that contribute to the development of joint diseases and, as a consequence, subchondral sclerosis include:

• insufficient or excessive physical activity;
• frequent joint and back injuries;
• hereditary predisposition to metabolic disorders or joint diseases.

Symptoms

Subchondral sclerosis varies in several stages, each of which has different manifestations:

• Stage I (initial) – the proliferation of bone tissue (osteophytes) is detected only at the edges of the joint;
• Stage II (moderate) – the image shows osteophytes, the articular part of the bone has a lighter shade, and the joint space is narrowed;
• Stage III - the joint space is narrowed significantly, the bone growths are quite large and can disrupt the motor activity of the joint due to friction;
• Stage IV – very large osteophytes, the articular surfaces of the bones are severely deformed, the joint is not capable of full flexion or extension.

Unfortunately, this pathology is most often detected in late stages, when surgical intervention is necessary to maintain the patient’s activity.

Most often, large joints and the spine are affected by changes in the subchondral bone.

But in addition to the listed radiological signs, the following subjective symptoms are observed with this pathology:

1. Subchondral sclerosis of the endplates of the spine is manifested by insufficient mobility of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar spine (depending on the location of the pathology), dull pain when trying to bend forward or backward, acute pain can occur when turning the body back. In the later stages, osteophytes can damage the blood and nerve lines of the spine and, as a result, the pathology moves into the area of ​​neurological ailments:
   - feeling of numbness in the limbs;
   - noise and ringing in the ears;
   - dizziness;
   - decreased hearing and visual acuity;
   - impaired coordination of movements, etc.
2. In the knee and elbow joints, the process of extension is disrupted - when trying to bend a limb, a person, as a rule, experiences only discomfort, and pain begins to be felt at the moment of extension.
3. Sclerosis of the subchondral tissues in the hip joint leads to sharp or aching pain in the pelvis and lower back. In later stages, dysfunction of the genitourinary organs and intestines may develop.

Important: subchondral sclerosis in the spine can manifest itself with symptoms such as chest pain, rapid heartbeat, a feeling of insufficient filling of the lungs when inhaling, and impaired renal function.

If the examination does not reveal any systemic diseases, it is necessary to undergo diagnosis by a vertebrologist, neurologist or orthopedist.

Complications

The most common complication of subchondral sclerosis is excessive growth of bone tissue in the joint, resulting in increased friction of the articular surfaces and, as a result, a new cycle of inflammation.

But in the absence of treatment, the complications do not end with the compaction and proliferation of tissues. As the articular surfaces thicken and extend beyond the anatomical limits of the joint, inflammation of the tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and subcutaneous tissue may develop.

In severe cases, the process can transform into purulent or necrotic - with the formation of pus and its penetration through the bloodstream into other organs, or with tissue death.

Treatment

Since subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces is not an independent disease, but only an X-ray sign by which the underlying disease can be identified, treatment is prescribed and carried out according to the following plan:

Treatment of the underlying disease

Depending on what causes the compaction and proliferation of subchondral tissue, drug treatment is prescribed. It may include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihistamine, hormonal, painkillers and other groups of drugs.

Important: revealing the destruction of subchondral tissues on an x-ray is not a reason to begin treatment with drugs that were recommended by someone who had the same symptoms. Only a complete examination and understanding of the causes of this condition allows adequate treatment.

If the joint is significantly deformed, surgery may be required to restore joint function. In modern medicine, various techniques are used - from arthroscopy to partial or complete joint replacement, each of which is indicated depending on the objective examination data and the degree of joint destruction.

Physical activity

Changes in the structure of subchondral tissue revealed during radiographic examination indicate a long-term pathological process in the joint.

Unlike traumatic and acute inflammatory conditions, chronic pathologies require stimulating procedures. This allows you to normalize metabolic processes in the joint tissues or, at a minimum, prevent the situation from getting worse. Therefore, physical therapy is one of the optimal ways to slow down the destruction of the joint and restore its function in subchondral sclerosis.

It is logical to assume that the visit to the doctor, as a result of which subchondral sclerosis was identified, was due to pain and discomfort. Therefore, physical activity can be a real challenge for a person suffering from joint pain.

Be sure to tell your doctor if after exercise therapy your health worsens and your joint pain becomes stronger. The attending physician will prescribe you a less intense course of exercise therapy, or temporarily replace it with massage and physiotherapy.

Manual and physical therapy

Massage, acupuncture, thermal, radiation and wave procedures serve the same purpose as exercise therapy - to accelerate metabolic processes and blood circulation in tissues with subchondral sclerosis.

In addition, electrophoresis can be prescribed with the use of medicinal applications (chondroprotectors, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs), and mud baths will help replenish the deficiency of minerals.