Causes, symptoms and treatment of cartilage chondritis

Despite the fact that chondrite is today a rare disease, its consequences on the human body are quite serious.

Equally, this disease affects both women and men aged 30-50 years. In some cases, pathology can develop in children and the elderly.

prevention How is the disease

beginning of the pathology considered to be the primary necrosis of cartilage arising out of theclogged with a blood vessel clogging the cartilage.

An endogenous infection can join the gradually necrotic site, against which a purulent inflammation, forming a sequestral cavity, develops.

As a result of inflammation, a purulent congestion of the infiltrate is formed. With further progression of the infection, it breaks outward or flows into another cavity of the internal organ with the further formation of the fistula.

The main types of chondrite

Hondrite is an inflammatory pathology that extends to cartilage and connective tissue.

Foci of spreading can be ears, joints, guttural area, nasal septum, heart valve and eyes. At the initial stage, a series of exacerbations is often replaced by remission.

In the absence of necessary treatment, the disease becomes a recurrent perichondrite.

The most common forms of chondritis have the following characteristics:

1. Laryngeal inflammation .Inflammation affects the perichondrium and cartilage of the larynx. This causes severe soreness and hardening of this zone.
2. Disease of the auricle .As a result of the disturbance of the blood supply, an inflammatory process of the cartilage located in the auricle occurs. As the disease develops, the ear swells, reddens and becomes hot and very painful to the touch.
3. Lesion of of nasal cartilage .The result of the inflammatory process is the gradual destruction of the cartilaginous tissue, as a result of which the dorsum of the nose acquires a saddle shape. The disease is accompanied by nasal congestion and sensation of bursting of this zone.
4. Edge chondrite .The second name of this disease - Tietze's disease is usually located in the chest zone. The disease is accompanied by increased morbidity of this zone and swelling of the inflamed area of ​​the cartilaginous tissue.

Causes of the disease

To date, no consensus has been reached on the causes of the onset of the disease. But on the basis of clinical studies in most patients in the blood there is a large number of antibodies to collagen type II.

This feature allows us to talk about the autoimmune mechanism of the development of pathology.

Also the reasons contributing to the appearance of this disease can be:

1. Injuries .As a result of mechanical damage( injury, gunshot, etc.), there is a violation of the integrity of the cartilaginous tissue, leading to a violation of blood circulation and nutrition. Against the background of a decrease in the protective mechanisms of a particular site, an infection occurs, which triggers the chondrite process.
2. Violation of calcium metabolism and individual vitamin groups .This pathology leads to cartilage degeneration;
3. Infection and allergic manifestations of .The start to the development of chondrite in some cases may be some infectious diseases. Inflammation of the cartilaginous tissue can after the flu, pneumonia, scarlet fever, diphtheria, malaria of tuberculosis, syphilis and rheumatism.

Clinical manifestations of

Symptoms of chondrite in the total mass are determined by the site of inflammation localization.

As for general symptoms, the patient usually worries about chills, low temperature( about 37˚, but may not be), weakness, swelling and discomfort of the inflamed area.

After a while the patient feels relief, and the formed swelling softens and transforms into an abscess. Later it is opened and an open fistula is formed.

For individual forms of chondritis the following manifestations are characteristic:

1. The localization of inflammation in the auditory canal is manifested by the swelling and soreness of this area.
2. With rib chondritis, the patient may feel pain from 5 to 8 ribs. Also in this zone there will be a swelling, from which the outflow of pus will occur in the future.
3. With a larynx, the patient will experience difficulty breathing, pain when swallowing, as well as some changes in voice timbre.

Diagnosis of violation of

To date, there is no single tactic for determining the disease.

But usually for the diagnosis specialists are assigned laboratory blood tests, the results of which show the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.

In the presence of a tumorous area, the patient is assigned X-ray and biopsy of the cartilage, and in the purulent compartment - the intake of the contents.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of chondritis can be conservative or surgical.

Conservative method

Conservative therapy has several directions. First of all, it is aimed at eliminating the infection in the body and removing the pain syndrome.

To this end, the patient is assigned the following series of drugs:

1. In the case of a mildly expressed symptom, non-steroid preparations of , such as aspirin or Ibuprofen.
2. For a more severe form, requires the adoption of prednisalone in a large dose. As the patient's condition is eased, the amount of the drug decreases.
3. For the started forms of chondritis, the treatment with with the immunosuppressant Cyclophosphamide is prescribed.
4. Analgesics .

Physiotherapeutic procedures are of no small importance for the fastest recovery.

At the initial stage of the disease a good effect is achieved after laser treatment with the device "Uzor".Also used UHF-therapy, UV-irradiation, electrophoresis and dynamic currents.

Locally used inhalations based on antibiotics and hydrocortisone or novocain with dimedrol and adrenaline. In case of manifestation of severe dysphagia, it is recommended to lubricate the inflamed area with 1% of the cocaine hydrochloride.

Also used as a lotion is the use of Bohr fluid or application of alcohol solution of iodine on the affected area.

Surgical method

With proper conservative therapy, no need for surgical intervention disappears. But in case of neglect of the disease, surgeons perform a resection of the affected cartilage.

Although doctors have recently abandoned such operations and are trying to replace them with less radical methods. In the case of large defects, plastic substitution is prescribed.

Also used is the scraping of the infiltrate, after which the treatment of the infected cavity with a laser beam is performed.

Prognosis and prophylaxis

Timely diagnosis and accurate compliance with the recommendations of a doctor allows you to say with confidence in the majority of cases about a favorable outcome of treatment. As for the postoperative period, it is possible for several weeks to have a pain syndrome.

Also at the site of resection, scars or other skin defects can be seen, which is easily eliminated by plastic surgery.

As a preventive measure, moderate physical exertion, strengthening of the immune system and trying to avoid various damages of the cartilaginous tissue are recommended.