Knee osteoarthritis: Current therapeutic strategies

There is a widespread perception amongst patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee that their condition is a 'wear and tear' problem for which no effective treatment is available. The current framework of therapy is a pyramid approach in which additional therapies are introduced as the disease progresses. However, recent increases in our understanding of the pathogenesis of OA have led to a number of exciting clinical trials of potential disease-modifying anti-OA drugs (DMAODs). Further development of these agents will alter our approach to treatment of this all too common problem.