Orthopedic aspects of functional connective-tissue mobility structures in development and course of intra-articular pathology of knee joint

Objective. To reveal the influence of functional mobility of connective-tissue structures on the development and course of intra-articular pathology of the knee joint.

Materials and methods. Patients (n = 279) with intra-articular pathology of the knee joint after the arthroscopic treatment were examined. The state of functional mobility of connective-tissue structures was diagnosed using the “express method for dysplastic state of connective tissues in conditions of ambulatory-polyclinic service”. Statistical analysis was carried out with Pirson correlation criteria.

Results. The paper is devoted to analysis of the influence of functional connective-tissue structure mobility on the development and course of intra-articular pathology of the knee joint. Subjects with low functional mobility of the connective-tissue structures were established to be more often subjected to chondromalacia of cartilaginous tissue of the femoral medial condyle and injury of the medial meniscus. Such pathology as slipping patella, Goff body hypertrophy and knee joint chondromatosis are typical for subjects with hypermobility of the connective-tissue structures.

Conclusions. High degree of functional mobility of connective-tissue structures significantly contributes to “preservation” of cartilaginous cover of the femoral medial condyle, even with concomitant pathology of the knee joint available. For men with high functional mobility of connective-tissue structures, the most common diseases are knee joint chondromatosis and Goff body hypertrophy, and for women – slipping patella. For women with low functional mobility of connective-tissue structures, the most typical is pathology of the medial meniscus.