Osteoarthritis

Question 1

How is osteoarthritis managed?

Answer 1

Lifestyle - weight loss
Occupational therapy - walking aids
Physiotherapy
Pharmacotherapy - analgesia (topical, NSAIDs, paracetamol, opioids, intra-articular steroid injections, topical capsaicin
Surgery - joint replacement

Question 2

What are the complications of osteoarthritis?

Answer 2

• Functional decline and inability to perform ADLs
• Spinal stenosis in cervical and lumbar OA
• NSAID-related GI bleeding and/or renal dysfunction
• Joint effusion