An Evidence-Based Approach to the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

The Journal of Orthopaedic Experience and Innovation editorial (Kirschenbaum 2021) requesting knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment protocols or algorithms is important. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Evidence-Based Guideline (2nd Edition) (Jevsevar et al. 2013) provides evidence of the effectiveness of knee OA treatments, but does not provide a treatment algorithm or protocol. Neither does the clinical practice guideline provide a rank ordering of the effectiveness of different treatments or guidance regarding when to initiate or discontinue treatments. Consequently, information must be incorporated from other sources and synthesized into an evidence-based approach. “Approach” is used because the diversity of patients, their co-morbidities, and their responses is not amenable to a defined protocol or algorithm.