Water on the knee

Water on the knee

Definition  :

Water on the knee is a general term for excess fluid accumulation in or around your knee joint. Your doctor may refer to this condition as an effusion (uh-FU-zhun) in your knee joint.
Water on the knee may be the result of trauma, overuse injuries, or an underlying disease or condition.

To determine the cause of water on the knee, your doctor may need to obtain a sample of the fluid to test for infection, disease or injury.
Removing some of the fluid also helps reduce the pain and stiffness associated with water on the knee. Once your doctor determines the underlying cause of your water on the knee, appropriate treatment can begin.

Symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of water on the knee typically include:

• Swelling. The flesh around your kneecap may puff up noticeably. This swelling is most apparent when you compare the affected knee to the normal one.
• Stiffness. When your knee joint contains excess fluid, you may not be able to bend or straighten your leg completely.
• Pain. Depending on the cause of the fluid buildup, the knee may be very painful — to the point that it's impossible to bear weight on it.

When to see a doctor
Seek prompt medical attention if:

• Self-care measures or prescribed medications don't relieve the pain and swelling
• One knee becomes red and feels warm to the touch as compared to your other knee

Causes:


Water on the knee can be caused by many different types of problems, ranging from traumatic injuries to diseases and conditions.
Injuries
Damage to any part of your knee can cause the painful buildup of excess joint fluid. Examples of traumatic injuries that cause fluid buildup in and around the knee joint are:

• Broken bones
• Meniscus tear
• Ligament tear
• Overuse injuries

Diseases and conditions
Underlying diseases and conditions that may produce fluid buildup in and around the knee joint include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Infection
• Gout
• Pseudogout
• Bursitis
• Cysts
• Bleeding disorders
• Tumors

Complications:

 If left untreated, water on the knee can severely limit your mobility. If the swelling is caused by an infection, it can destroy the joint.

Treatments and drugs:


Pain medications and procedures to remove fluid from the knee joint reduce the symptoms of water on the knee. Treatment varies for diseases and conditions causing water on the knee, but depending on the severity of the swelling and your medical history, options may include:
Medications
Drugs used to treat the symptoms or underlying causes of water on the knee include:

• Pain medications. If over-the-counter pain medications don't work well enough, your doctor may prescribe stronger drugs to help control your pain.
• Antibiotics. If your symptoms are being caused by an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection.
• Corticosteroids. These strong anti-inflammatory drugs, such as prednisone, can be taken orally or may be injected directly into your knee joint. Corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, so you shouldn't use them too often or for a very long period of time.

Surgical and other procedures
Minimally invasive surgery and other methods of treating water on the knee and its most common underlying causes include:

• Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis). Removing fluid from your knee joint can help relieve the pressure of joint fluid buildup. After aspirating joint fluid, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid into the joint to treat inflammation.
• Arthroscopy. During this procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin over your knee joint, then inserts a small, lighted tube (arthroscope) that sends real-time images of the inside of your knee to a video terminal. Your surgeon may also use small, precise tools — sometimes placed in the joint through an attachment to the arthroscope — to remove loose tissue or repair damage in your knee.
• Joint replacement. If bearing weight on your knee joint becomes intolerable, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for knee replacement.