As we age, the risk of developing diseases of the spine and joints increases. This is due to degenerative and destructive changes in the body. One of the common pathologies is arthrosis of the ankle joint.
Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint - what is it?
Ankle arthrosis is a chronic disease and cannot be completely cured. According to statistics, 10% of people have this dystrophic disorder. People over 40 are especially susceptible to it. Disease can lead to disability. Therefore, it is necessary to treat promptly and competently.
The ankle consists of the fibula, talus and tibia, two malleoli and ligaments. In arthrosis, inflammation and destruction of the articular cartilage occurs. Bone tissue is damaged and deformed as the pathology progresses.
ICD 10 code
ICD stands for International Classification of Diseases. In such a document, each disease is assigned a specific code. This code consists of letters and numbers and is indicated in the medical record when the diagnosis is made. Thanks to it, a doctor in any country will understand what the patient is suffering from and where the pathological focus is localized.
The diagnosis of arthrosis is presented in a block of 5 headings and several sub-headings. Ankle arthrosis is included in category M19. This section is divided into 5 subsections. The sign after the period indicates the etiology. So, 0 - these are genetically determined degenerative changes, 1 - post-traumatic changes, 2 - dystrophic changes against the background of endocrine, vascular or inflammatory pathology, 8 - these are other specific causes, 9 - a disease of unknown cause. For example, code M19. 1 is arthrosis of the ankle as a result of injury.
reasons
Pathology develops for various reasons. Provocative factors for the appearance of the disease in adults are:
- Increased load on the joint. Doctors often observe degenerative changes in cartilage and bone tissue in obese patients and professional athletes (football players, bodybuilders, runners and dancers).
- Diabetes.
- Ankle injury.
- Wearing uncomfortable shoes, walking in heels.
In children, the pathology develops due to the following reasons:
- Thyrotoxicosis.
- Tissue dysplasia.
- Injury.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Fracture.
- Inflammation of the joints.
- Luxation.
Symptoms
The following manifestations are characteristic of ankle arthrosis:
- pain. Appears after staying in one position. When a person tries to stand up and lean on his leg, he experiences a stabbing (sore) pain and stiffness of movement. After a few steps, the discomfort disappears. The pain occurs during and after physical activity.
- Clicking, crunching in the ankle joint when walking.
- Restriction of movements.
- Swelling below the ankles.
- Hypotrophy, weakness of the ligament apparatus.
- Deformation of the joint (characteristic of advanced disease).
Degrees
There are several degrees of arthrosis. Many years pass from the appearance of the first signs of degenerative changes in the joint to the loss of mobility. If you start the therapy in time, there is a chance to stop the progression of the disease. The success of the treatment depends on the stage at which the pathology was detected.
Degrees of arthrosis of the ankle joint:
- First. The degenerative process has just begun to develop and does not cause much discomfort to a person. The only symptoms are temporary morning stiffness in the legs, fatigue and mild pain. A crunch appears when bending and straightening the leg. No pathological changes were detected on X-ray examination. The prognosis for drug treatment is favorable.
- Second. The symptoms of the disease intensify. Morning stiffness doesn't go away for about an hour. The pain appears at the beginning of walking. Walking just 1 km distance, one feels very tired in one's legs. When the ankle moves, a crunch is heard. X-rays show osteophytes, a convergence of the ends of the bones. Surgical treatment is indicated.
- third. The pain syndrome occurs not only during movement, but also at rest. A person cannot work or rest normally without anesthetics. The patient cannot move independently. The X-ray image shows cracks, flattening of the joint surfaces, osteophytes and subluxations. Treatment is surgical and medicinal.
- Fourth. The symptoms of the disease are mild. The pain goes away. But the stiffness of the movement does not allow a person to walk. The cartilage of the fourth stage is completely destroyed. X-ray shows healing of the joint space.
Diagnosis
During the diagnosis, the doctor determines the extent of the disease and identifies the exacerbation. Laboratory and hardware techniques are used for this:
- Blood test (detailed).
- Rheumatoid tests.
- Ultrasound.
- CT.
- CRP test.
- Radiography.
- MRI.
Treatment
Therapy should be comprehensive and include taking medications, using physical therapy methods, and performing therapeutic physical exercises.
The patient is prescribed the following drugs:
- Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs.
- Chondroprotectors.
- Pain relievers.
- Corticosteroid hormones.
The mobility of the joints is restored through manual therapy and procedures with a special apparatus. Physiotherapy accelerates regeneration and stimulates blood circulation in the affected joint. Electrical stimulation, laser therapy and ultrasound are effective. In case of severe dystrophic changes, endoprosthesis is performed.
Prevention
You can prevent ankle arthrosis by following the following rules:
- Keep your weight within normal limits.
- Strengthening the spine with special exercises.
- Avoid injury.
- Correction of congenital anomalies of the joint structure.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Treat endocrine and vascular disorders promptly.
- Regularly undergo preventive examinations if you have a genetic predisposition to the disease.