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Abstract: The patient suffered a knee sprain while playing basketball, resulting in pain, swelling, and limited movement, and was diagnosed with synovitis by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was advised to take comprehensive conservative treatment, including brace braking and ultrashort wave therapy. After active treatment, the patient’s knee synovitis gradually improved, pain was relieved, and normal walking as well as sports ability were gradually restored.
Basic information】Male, 40 years old
Disease Type】Synovitis
Hospital】Harbin First Hospital
Date of Consultation】July 2021
Treatment plan】Comprehensive conservative treatment (brace braking, ultrashort wave therapy, quadriceps strength training)
Treatment period】1 week of inpatient treatment, 3 weeks of outpatient treatment
Effectiveness of treatment] Pain relief and restoration of knee movement
I. Initial consultation
The patient suffered a knee sprain while playing basketball, resulting in rapid swelling of the knee joint with pain and limited movement. After physical examination and imaging, the patient was found to have no significant structural damage to the meniscus or ligaments, so he was advised to use comprehensive conservative treatment to relieve knee symptoms and restore knee function. The patient agreed and was admitted to the hospital.
II. Treatment history
The patient was admitted to the hospital for comprehensive conservative treatment, including short-term braking of the knee joint with a brace and ultrashort wave therapy to promote the reduction of synovial inflammation and absorption of knee joint fluid, as well as reducing knee weight bearing and knee twisting movements, and enhancing quadriceps strength training to improve blood circulation in the knee joint, especially the blood supply to the synovial membrane, thereby promoting the reduction of synovial inflammation. The patient was discharged after 7 days and continued outpatient treatment with the rehabilitation physician for about 3 weeks.
III. Treatment effect
Through comprehensive conservative treatment, the patient’s knee synovial inflammation gradually subsided. During the review, it was confirmed that the swelling and pain of the knee gradually subsided to complete elimination, and the range of motion and flexibility of the knee were restored without any damage to the articular cartilage. The knee joint stability was significantly improved due to the active contraction of the quadriceps muscle on a daily basis. At the same time, the amount of daily exercise and knee joint load was controlled and the knee joint protection was strengthened, and no recurrence of synovial inflammation occurred.
IV. Notes
We are glad to see that the patient’s pain was relieved and the knee joint function was restored after treatment. Although the synovial membrane was not removed, the early use of comprehensive conservative treatment can make the synovial inflammation subside. Patients need to pay attention to avoid over-exercise in daily life, minimize total body fat, reduce knee joint pressure, avoid occurrence of joint sprain, protect the synovial membrane, which can eventually make the normal secretion of joint fluid, thus ensuring the nutrition of joint cartilage and avoiding the occurrence of joint cartilage destruction, resulting in joint function limitation. If knee pain occurs during exercise, stop the exercise and rest appropriately, and then resume moderate exercise after the pain disappears completely to prevent synovial inflammation and excessive cartilage wear in the joint.
V. Personal insight
Synovial inflammation of the knee joint is related to traumatic factors such as joint sprains, and the synovial membrane becomes severely edematous, resulting in abnormal secretion of joint fluid and easy destruction of joint cartilage. If the patient is diagnosed by MRI and receives early treatment, the synovial inflammation of the knee can be cured. Frequent synovial inflammation can lead to joint dysfunction, affecting the patient’s daily life and work, and impairing athletic ability.