Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common cause of pain and disability that affects up to 1.2 million Australians, including many people aged over 45 years.
Today the Commission has released a revised Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard (2024), offering the latest guidance on how to proactively manage the condition to ease symptoms, including pain, joint stiffness and reduced mobility.
Key changes include:
- Limiting the use of imaging for diagnosis, unless clinically warranted
- Stronger focus on non-surgical interventions, such as physical activity and weight management
- Communication tips on how to talk with patients about osteoarthritis, and
- Strengthened medication advice, including avoiding the use of opioids.
First released in 2017, the Standard was developed by the Commission to improve how people with knee osteoarthritis were reviewed and managed.
Each year, 53,500 knee replacements are performed to treat osteoarthritis in Australia and the figure is rising. By 2030, knee replacements are expected to increase by 276%.
The Commission partnered with experts across all healthcare disciplines to develop the revised Standard and implementation resources.
