title: Treatment options for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
abstract: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects many older people and may result in pain and loss of function in the knee. The article explores the wide spectrum of treatments available, including education, exercise, pharmacological agents and surgery. The evidence for these treatments is examined so that nurses have a knowledge base on which to build their practice. The importance of individual patient characteristics and available resources when deciding on treatment options is emphasized. The article is intended to be of use for both acute and primary care nurses who care for patients with knee OA.
authors.affiliation: Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust, London.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001182:Arthroscopy; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024802:Nurse's Role; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010027:Osteotomy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid