Management of osteoarthritis

To review the classification, epidemiology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, and medical management of osteoarthritis.

Selected studies, review articles, rheumatology primers, and clinical practice guidelines.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and the second most common cause of long-term disability among adults in the United States. It is a heterogeneous condition causing pathogenic changes that are presumably irreversible; it should not be considered part of "normal aging."

Medical management of OA includes various treatment modalities and should be based on the distribution and severity of joint involvement, as well as the presence of comorbid conditions. Treatment goals include decreasing stress on involved joints, limiting physical disability, maintaining or improving function, reducing pain, and avoiding drug toxicity.