Published online Mar 18, 2022. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v13.i3.212
Peer-review started: March 29, 2021
First decision: June 16, 2021
Revised: June 29, 2021
Accepted: January 29, 2022
Article in press: January 29, 2022
Published online: March 18, 2022
Processing time: 357 Days and 11.3 Hours
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common chronic debilitating disease with an estimated prevalence of 23.9% in the general adult population. The condition is characterised by joint pain, functional impairment and significant reduction in quality of life. Management for KOA can generally be divided into conservative (non-operative) and surgical (operative) measures. Conservative management broadly compromises pharmacological and non-pharmacological options and is conventionally the first line treatment to avoid or delay the need for surgical management. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the current recommendations, efficacy and safety profile of different conservative treatments through a review of the literature.
Core Tip: Conservative management is conventionally used as the first line treatment to avoid or delay the need for surgical management in knee osteoarthritis. However, it remains under-utilised and recommendations of different conservative management options can vary greatly among different international guidelines. Hence, this study aims to provide an overview of the current recommendations, efficacy and safety profile of different conservative management options so as to better understand the value of each treatment option.