Evidence-Based Medicine
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Orthop. Feb 18, 2017; 8(2): 187-191
Published online Feb 18, 2017. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i2.187
Knee osteoarthritis: Therapeutic alternatives in primary care
Allison L Evaniew, Nathan Evaniew
Allison L Evaniew, Nathan Evaniew, Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton L8L 8E7, Canada
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this work.
Data sharing statement: No further data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Dr. Nathan Evaniew, Research Fellow, Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, 293 Wellington St. N, Suite 110, Hamilton L8L 8E7, Canada. nathan.evaniew@medportal.ca
Telephone: +1-905-5214322 Fax: +1-905-5238781
Received: July 11, 2016
Peer-review started: July 14, 2016
First decision: September 12, 2016
Revised: September 24, 2016
Accepted: November 16, 2016
Article in press: November 18, 2016
Published online: February 18, 2017
Processing time: 220 Days and 2 Hours
Abstract
AIM

To discusses pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives for managing knee osteoarthritis in primary care by primary health care nurse practitioners.

METHODS

A case example is presented, the evidence-based guideline recommendations of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons are reviewed, and a plan of care is developed.

RESULTS

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis seen in primary care, and it is a major public health issue because the aging population and widespread obesity have drastically increased incidence. Osteoarthritis is clinically associated with escalating chronic pain, physical disability, and decreased quality of life. Early diagnosis of mild osteoarthritis in relatively young patients presents an opportunity for primary health care providers to manage pain, increase quality of life, and decrease risk of disability.

CONCLUSION

Primary health care providers can implement these recommendations in their own practices to provide care to patients with knee osteoarthritis based on current best evidence.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Knee; Primary care; Nurse practitioner; Guidelines

Core tip: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis seen in primary care, and it is a major public health issue because the aging population and widespread obesity have drastically increased incidence. Osteoarthritis is clinically associated with escalating chronic pain, physical disability, and decreased quality of life. Early diagnosis of mild osteoarthritis in relatively young patients presents an opportunity for primary health care providers to manage pain, increase quality of life, and decrease risk of disability. This manuscript presents and discusses pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives for managing knee osteoarthritis in primary care by primary health care nurse practitioners. A case example is presented, the evidence-based guideline recommendations of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons are reviewed, and a plan of care is developed. Primary health care providers can implement these recommendations in their own practices to provide care to patients with knee osteoarthritis based on current best evidence.