Knee osteoarthritis: pathophysiology and current treatment modalities

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology and natural history are complex and not fully understood.
• Despite extensive research, significant controversies persist regarding OA's multifactorial influences (local, systemic, external).
• Patient-specific variations in OA progression and treatment response are notable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of knee osteoarthritis pathophysiology.
• To review existing and emerging non-surgical therapeutic options for knee OA.
• To address the controversies and patient variability in knee OA management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on knee osteoarthritis.
• Synthesis of information on OA pathophysiology and natural history.
• Analysis of current and investigational non-surgical treatment modalities.

Main Results:

• Low-impact physical activity is consistently recommended for knee OA management.
• Other therapeutic interventions for knee OA have yielded conflicting findings.
• Emerging therapies and novel administration routes show promising preliminary results for knee OA.

Conclusions:

• A deeper understanding of knee OA pathophysiology is crucial for effective management.
• Non-surgical interventions, particularly physical activity, form the cornerstone of current knee OA treatment.
• Continued research into novel therapies is essential to address the unmet needs in knee OA care.