Causes-Symptoms

It is a degenerative disease of the knee joint in adults of non-inflammatory origin. The onset of destruction of the articular cartilage and subsequent inflammation of the synovial membrane (synovitis) the bone is destroyed, leading to increasing and painful destruction of the joint.

It is the most common form of osteoarthritis; after the age of 70, there is hardly a person who does not have gonarthrosis of a certain severity.

The arthrosis can affect either the medial part of the joint (varus gonarthrosis), the lateral area (valgus gonarthrosis), the kneecap (retropatellar arthrosis) or all joint compartments (pangonarthrosis).
With regard to their cause, gonarthroses are divided into primary and secondary gonarthroses. In primary arthroses, a cause for the disease cannot be found. The secondary gonarthroses are rather rare. The most common causes are listed below:

• Post-traumatic (after fractures, meniscus or ligament injuries)
• After axial malalignments
• Inflammations and infections in the area of the knee joint
• Metabolic disorders.

Examination Methods

The diagnosis is confirmed by X-rays of the knee joint after a clinical examination. The X-ray images should be taken in the standing position

Treatment options

When conservative treatment options have been exhausted, the only remaining treatment for gonarthrosis is the implantation of an artificial knee joint (endoprosthesis). In our clinic, approximately 650 primary endoprosthetic procedures and revision surgeries are performed in the area of the knee joint per year.
Depending on the individual initial situation of the patient, a variety of cementless or cemented prosthesis models are available. In the case of extensive bone defects, periprosthetic fractures or osteolyses, specially manufactured implants are used.