title: An algorithm recommendation for the management of knee osteoarthritis in Europe and internationally: a report from a task force of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Existing practice guidelines for osteoarthritis (OA) analyze the evidence behind each proposed treatment but do not prioritize the interventions in a given sequence. The objective was to develop a treatment algorithm recommendation that is easier to interpret for the prescribing physician based on the available evidence and that is applicable in Europe and internationally. The knee was used as the model OA joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  ESCEO assembled a task force of 13 international experts (rheumatologists, clinical epidemiologists, and clinical scientists). Existing guidelines were reviewed; all interventions listed and recent evidence were retrieved using established databases. A first schematic flow chart with treatment prioritization was discussed in a 1-day meeting and shaped to the treatment algorithm. Fine-tuning occurred by electronic communication and three consultation rounds until consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basic principles consist of the need for a combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment with a core set of initial measures, including information access/education, weight loss if overweight, and an appropriate exercise program. Four multimodal steps are then established. Step 1 consists of background therapy, either non-pharmacological (referral to a physical therapist for re-alignment treatment if needed and sequential introduction of further physical interventions initially and at any time thereafter) or pharmacological. The latter consists of chronic Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs for OA (e.g., prescription glucosamine sulfate and/or chondroitin sulfate) with paracetamol at-need; topical NSAIDs are added in the still symptomatic patient. Step 2 consists of the advanced pharmacological management in the persistent symptomatic patient and is centered on the use of oral COX-2 selective or non-selective NSAIDs, chosen based on concomitant risk factors, with intra-articular corticosteroids or hyaluronate for further symptom relief if insufficient. In Step 3, the last pharmacological attempts before surgery are represented by weak opioids and other central analgesics. Finally, Step 4 consists of end-stage disease management and surgery, with classical opioids as a difficult-to-manage alternative when surgery is contraindicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed treatment algorithm may represent a new framework for the development of future guidelines for the management of OA, more easily accessible to physicians.
authors: Support Unit in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium. Electronic address: olivier.bruyere@ulg.ac.be.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Bruyère
authors: MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors: Cyrus
authors: C
authors: Cooper
authors: Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Pelletier
authors: CEDOC, Department of Rheumatology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa/CHLO, EPE-Hospital Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Branco
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Luisa Brandi
authors: Université de Lorraine, Université Paris Descartes, Nancy, France.
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Guillemin
authors: Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Baltimore, MD; Health Care System, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Marc C
authors: MC
authors: Hochberg
authors: WHO Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Kanis
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors: Tore K
authors: TK
authors: Kvien
authors: Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: Johanne
authors: J
authors: Martel-Pelletier
authors: Service of Bone Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Rizzoli
authors: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; OMC Clinical Research Center, Beverly Hills, CA.
authors: Stuart
authors: S
authors: Silverman
authors: Support Unit in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, University of Liège, CHU Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors: Jean-Yves
authors: JY
authors: Reginster
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D019468:Disease Management; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Algorithm; Knee osteoarthritis