Joint Swelling: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnostic Methods

In daily life, excessive physical activity can easily put a burden on our knees, especially as we age, the meniscus in our knees may also experience wear and tear. If there is unexplained swelling and pain in the knee, it is likely caused by inflammation. It is advisable to consult a doctor to check for synovitis or other orthopedic diseases.

Joint swelling refers to swelling around the joint, which can be accompanied by pain. It is generally a clinical manifestation of various diseases. Joints are the building blocks of all motor organs and are closely related to people's quality of life. Initial joint swelling should not be ignored and should be promptly examined and diagnosed by a doctor.

Joint swelling is often seen in traumatic synovitis, usually caused by acute trauma or chronic injury. After prolonged, repetitive movements of the knee joint, the synovial membrane tissue becomes inflamed and swollen. Acute injuries include knee joint sprains, meniscus injuries, lateral collateral ligament or cross-ligament injuries. Joint effusion is more commonly seen in rheumatic arthritis.

1. Knee joint swelling is commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as in conditions such as synovitis, knee osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, posterior cruciate ligament ruptures, meniscus tears, septic arthritis, patellar dislocations, patellar fractures, tibial intercondylar eminence fractures, tibial plateau fractures, femoral condyle fractures, and other trauma-related injuries.

2. Ankle joint swelling is commonly caused by trauma, but it can also be caused by inflammatory infections or synovitis and other exudative arthritis.

3. Elbow joint swelling can be caused by trauma or septic arthritis. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is commonly seen in individuals who repeatedly perform elbow joint activities, such as bricklayers and carpenters.

Diagnostic methods include rheumatoid factor tests, anti-streptolysin "O" tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, blood uric acid tests, blood routine tests, X-ray examinations, magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans of bone joints and soft tissue, joint examinations, radiographs of the bones and joints of the extremities, motor function of the extremities and joints, arthroscopy, and other tests to determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic arthritis, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, and other common pathologies.