Bone and joint swelling is one of the most common complaints that can occur due to many different conditions. Swelling may develop in these structures, which are an important part of the human skeletal system, especially due to trauma, tumor, infection and inflammation.
What is Bone Swelling?
Bone swelling can be expressed as an increase in the size of the bones due to infection or inflammation. Bone infections are diseases that generally occur as a result of invasion by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Bone infections with bone swelling in children usually tend to affect the long bones of the arms and legs. In adults, more hip, spine and foot bones are found to be involved.
Bone infections are problems that can occur suddenly or gradually over time. In cases that do not receive proper diagnosis and treatment, care should be taken as permanent damage to the bones may occur. In bone infections, swelling and pain in the affected area are among the first symptoms. In addition to these complaints, other complaints such as chills, chills, redness in the affected area, restlessness and movement problems during the use of that limb may also occur.
Bone tumors are another group of diseases that progress with swelling in the bone. These structures, which are formed as a result of uncontrolled division of cells, may first cause bone swelling in the form of a lump. Benign or malignant bone tumors may be felt as palpable swelling. The bone tumor called osteochondroma is the most common subtype among all benign bone tumors and almost half of the benign bone tumor cases are osteochondroma cases. This tumor, which is detected in the ends of the long bones responsible for growth, occurs especially in the thighbone, calf bone and long bone of the upper arm. An Orthopedic and Traumatology specialist should be consulted for the differential diagnosis of palpable swellings in the bones.
What Causes Swelling in the Joints?
Joints are caused by the coming together of two or more bones and ensuring their proper movement. responsible structures. Hand and foot bones, wrists, knees, hips, arms and many other parts of the body It has the ability to move thanks to its structure.
There are various soft tissue elements that take on a protective function on the outer surface of the joints. Joint swelling, which occurs as a result of fluid accumulation between these structures, may be accompanied by other symptoms such as pain and limitation of movement. Joints in the affected area can often appear larger than normal or have an irregular shape.
Swelling in the joints can occur due to many different health problems, some of the common and curious reasons are as follows:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of joint disease in the elderly, progresses with joint cartilage damage especially in the joints that are loaded. and it is a progressive disease with symptoms due to damage. Although the symptoms vary according to the joint involved, complaints such as pain and limitation of movement may occur in the individual with the progression of cartilage damage.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune-inflammatory disease that occurs as a result of the immune system targeting various parts of the body, especially the joints. Joint inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis usually tends to involve both sides of the body. Since rheumatoid arthritis, in which complaints such as joint swelling, joint pain and stiffness occur, is a chronic and difficult to treat disease, patients should not be followed up by rheumatology physicians after their diagnosis.
Arthritis attacks due to rheumatoid arthritis cause serious and permanent deformities in the joints in the long term. If it is diagnosed early, the frequency of attacks can be reduced and the progression of deformation can be slowed down thanks to the treatments applied.
Gout
Gout, which is a disease characterized by the accumulation of uric acid in the joint cavity, tends to involve the foot region in particular. The development of gout in the foot manifests itself in the form of joint swelling, especially in the thumb. In gout attacks where sudden onset and intense pain occur, people also complain of excessive heat increase in their feet. The onset of symptoms occurs simultaneously with the accumulation of uric acid crystals. and complaints may continue for approximately 3-10 days. Apart from this situation, which is called a gout attack, individuals may not have any symptoms.
Appropriate medical intervention for gout is among the most important steps that can be taken to prevent the condition from becoming chronic. In chronic gout cases, swellings called tophi may develop. Care should be taken as these tophi structures, which can occur in the joint, skin or surrounding soft tissue, may cause permanent damage to the joints. Psoriatic arthritis cases, which are generally examined in 5 subtypes, are grouped according to which joints are involved and whether they affect the body symmetrically. In the first group, which is defined as symmetrical psoriatic arthritis, as the name of the disease suggests, the body joints are involved bilaterally. Symmetrical psoriatic arthritis cases, which have a milder course than rheumatoid arthritis, are the type of joint inflammation that occurs in approximately half of the joint inflammations in psoriasis patients.
Asymmetric psoriatic arthritis is a joint disorder characterized by unilateral involvement. In these cases, complaints such as redness in the affected area may also occur in addition to joint swelling. Asymmetric psoriatic arthritis cases, which generally follow a mild to moderate course, are the type of joint inflammation that can be detected in 1 out of every 3 psoriatic arthritis patients. Apart from these psoriatic arthritis types, there are also severe psoriatic arthritis types that involve the finger joints close to the nails, the spine and have a severe course.
Septic (Infectious) Arthritis
Septic arthritis cases, which are caused by the invasion of the joint areas by foreign microorganisms, are usually caused by the infection in another part of the body. It starts with the contamination of the joint with the blood. Surgical operations or deep injuries to the joint area are among other conditions that can cause septic arthritis.
Septic arthritis is a condition that usually affects only one joint. Particularly large joints of the body such as knees, hips and shoulders are among the most frequently involved joints in this disease. Joint swelling, pain with movement Unbearable pain, redness and heat increase around the joint, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, restlessness and acceleration of heartbeat are the complaints that may occur in cases of septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is an important disease that requires urgent intervention in orthopedic surgery.
How to Treat Bone Swelling?
Treatment of bone or joint swelling and healing time for bone swelling vary depending on the underlying cause of these conditions. Simple swellings caused by any trauma can be controlled with pain medication and rest. Applying cold to the affected area for 10 minutes at intervals may be beneficial in reducing the swelling.
Intravenous or oral antibiotic treatment is applied depending on the severity of the case in swellings caused by infection in the bones and joints. In some severe cases, antibiotic treatment may continue for 6 weeks. If dead tissue accumulation, abscess or intense inflammatory fluid collection occurs in the affected bone and joint area, surgical cleaning of the area may be considered.
Sometimes, physicians may decide to follow the patient without intervention in swelling due to benign bone tumors. Surgical removal of the tumoral tissue may be performed if the tumor changes in size over time or if it is determined that it has the potential to become malignant.
Even if the growing bone tumors are benign, it is recommended to be careful as they can cause bone fractures over time. In cases of joint swelling caused by osteoarthritis and other chronic joint inflammation, pain and swelling can be controlled with physical therapy and rehabilitation applications in addition to drug therapy.
Bone and joint swelling can occur due to tumor, infection or autoimmune conditions, especially trauma. is a complaint. If you observe the symptoms that may arise from these problems in your body, it is recommended that you apply to health institutions and get support from specialist physicians.
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