The Functional Outcomes of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis Managed Nonoperatively at the Joint Clinic at 5-Year Follow-Up: Does Surgical Avoidance Mean Success?

Background: Nonoperative management of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) through multidisciplinary programs may delay or reduce the need for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, avoidance of surgery may not represent success for the patient.

Methods: A cohort of 120 patients with knee OA managed with at least 6 months of supervised nonoperative treatment coordinated through the Joint Clinic were reviewed at 5 years.

The Outcomes of Nonoperative Management of Patients With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Triaged to a Physiotherapy-Led Clinic at Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up and Factors Associated With Progression to Surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine outcomes of a nonoperative treatment service for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), the "Joint Clinic," at minimum 5-year follow-up, and investigate factors that may influence progression to joint replacement surgery.

Methods: This is an observational cohort study of 337 patients with hip (n = 151, 45%) or knee OA (n = 186, 55%) seen at the Joint Clinic, at 5-7 years of follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to determine survivorship of the affected joint and Cox regression used to determine factors associated with time to surgery.