Post‑traumatic arthropathy; degenerative joint disease that develops after an injury to a joint

Описание: Post‑traumatic arthropathy refers to degenerative joint disease (arthritis) that develops as a consequence of previous trauma to a joint. It is a form of secondary osteoarthritis, where the initiating factor is mechanical injury rather than primary wear‑and‑tear.

🔎 Definition
Chronic joint degeneration following fractures, dislocations, or ligamentous injuries.

Trauma disrupts normal joint anatomy → abnormal biomechanics → progressive cartilage wear and joint degeneration.

📊 Causes
Intra‑articular fractures

Damage to articular cartilage or joint congruity.

Example: tibial plateau fracture → knee arthritis.

Joint dislocations

Especially recurrent shoulder or ankle dislocations.

Ligament injuries

ACL rupture → instability → knee arthritis.

Meniscal injuries

Meniscectomy or untreated tears → altered load distribution.

🩺 Clinical Features
Pain (chronic, activity‑related).

Stiffness and reduced range of motion.

Swelling (effusion).

Crepitus (grating sensation).

Functional limitation (difficulty walking, climbing stairs, using affected limb).

⚙️ Diagnosis
History: Prior trauma to the joint.

Imaging:

X‑ray: joint space narrowing, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, deformity.

MRI: cartilage damage, ligament/meniscus pathology.

Differentiation: Must distinguish from primary osteoarthritis (no trauma history).

🛠️ Management
Conservative:

NSAIDs, physiotherapy, activity modification.

Bracing or orthotics.

Injections: Corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid.

Surgical:

Arthroscopy (debridement, meniscal repair).

Osteotomy (realignment).



#Arthropathy