Table 1:

Current clinical practice guideline recommendations for treating knee osteoarthritis (33)

InterventionEULAR34ACR35AAOS36NICE37OARSI38
AcetaminophenBeneficial in some instancesBeneficial in some instancesUncertainRecommendRecommend
Oral NSAIDsBeneficial in some instancesBeneficial in some instancesRecommendRecommendRecommend
Topical NSAIDsBeneficial in some instancesBeneficial in some instancesRecommendRecommendRecommend
OpioidsBeneficial in some instancesUncertainUncertainUncertainUncertain
Intra-articular corticosteroidsBeneficial in some instancesBeneficial in some instancesUncertainRecommendRecommend
Intra-articular hyaluronic acidBeneficial in some instancesUncertainNot recommendedNot recommendedUncertain
AcupunctureBeneficial in some instancesBeneficial in some instancesNot recommendedNot recommendedUncertain
Glucosamine or chondroitinBeneficial in some instancesNot recommendedNot recommendedNot recommendedUncertain
Bracing*RecommendUncertainUncertainBeneficial in some instancesRecommend
Arthroscopic lavageNot recommendedNot recommendedNot recommendedNot recommendedNot recommended

  • Note: AAOS = American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, ACR = American College of Rheumatology, EULAR = European League Against Rheumatism, NICE = National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NSAIDs = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, OARSI = Osteoarthritis Research Society International.

  • Used with permission from: Johal H, Tahira D, Schemitsch EH, et al. Viscosupplementation in knee osteoarthritis: evidence revisited. JBJS Rev 2016;4:e11–111.

  • ↵* Entry added by the authors.