Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) consists of a generally progressive loss of articular cartilage accompanied by attempted repair of articular cartilage, subchondral bone remodeling, and in many instances the formation of osteophytes. Knee OA is steadily becoming the most common cause of disability for middle-aged and older people. There are multiple risk factors for OA: age, gender, and genetic predisposition. In addition, biomechanical factors such as knee alignment, obesity, and knee trauma are important. The goal of treatment for the patient who has knee OA is to minimize discomfort, improve function, and limit further injury. Traditional nonoperative treatment includes activity modification, weight loss, exercise, orthotics, NSAIDs, and intra-articular injection. Symptomatic disease may be more appropriately treated with a course of conservative therapy. However, surgical options have become increasingly popular, as recent studies have suggested that early surgical intervention leads to better long-term results.