[Uncertainties regarding the ambulatory health care for patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee: a review].

Joint complaints and pain due to osteoarthritis are among the most common symptoms in the adult population. In elderly patients the osteoarthritis of the knee demands special attention since the resulting mobility impairment may exceed the impact of complaints in other joints and threaten the patients' daily living independence. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the health care actually provided to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. There is a lack of national data on health services use and the quality of health care. The transfer of findings of international studies is limited because of differences between health care systems and variable methodological approaches in the studies. Overall, the available data suggest an underuse of recommended health care interventions. A comprehensive research approach is urgently needed. Further studies should focus on causes for non-adherence to guideline recommendations to uncover actual health care deficits and to outline options for an improvement of health care provided to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.