Symptom management for patients awaiting joint replacement surgery.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee often necessitates joint replacement surgery.
• The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of non-urgent elective surgeries, impacting thousands of patients awaiting hip and knee replacements.
• Many affected patients are seeking symptom management from general practitioners during this interim period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current recommendations for the non-operative management of symptomatic osteoarthritis.
• To provide guidance for healthcare professionals managing patients with osteoarthritis during surgical backlogs.

Main Methods:

• Review of current non-operative treatment modalities for osteoarthritis.
• Identification of resources for allied health services.

Main Results:

• Non-operative treatments include education, lifestyle modification, exercise, weight management, physiotherapy, orthotics, psychological support, pharmaceuticals, and injections.
• Multimodal therapy is essential for patients with severe symptoms.
• Online resources are provided to supplement potentially limited public allied health services.

Conclusions:

• Non-operative management is crucial for patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis awaiting joint replacement surgery.
• A multimodal approach tailored to individual patient needs is recommended.
• Accessible resources are vital, especially when public health services face limitations.