Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that results in pain, varying degrees of functional limitation and reduced quality of life. 

More than 2.1 million Australians are estimated to have osteoarthritis, making it the most common form of arthritis in Australia. Symptoms are relatively uncommon in people aged under 45, but more than one in four people 65 or older report some joint symptoms.

While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are many ways of slowing disease progression and there are treatments available to manage symptoms. Current guidelines recommend a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological management to treat osteoarthritis.

Despite current efforts, there are indications that there is considerable variation in the type of care received, and not everyone with knee osteoarthritis receives appropriate treatment. This relates particularly to the use of imaging and rates of arthroscopy.

The goals of the clinical care standard are:

• To improve timely assessment and optimal management for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
• To enhance patients’ symptom control, joint function, psychological wellbeing, quality of life and participation in usual activities, and lessen the disability caused by knee osteoarthritis.

This clinical care standard relates to the care that patients aged 45 years and over should receive when they present with knee pain and are suspected of having knee osteoarthritis. This includes:

• Early clinical assessment
• Diagnosis and ongoing non-surgical management over the course of the condition
• Referral to non-general practitioner specialists
• Consideration of surgery if required.

While some younger people have knee osteoarthritis, prevalence rises sharply after 45 years of age. For this reason, the scope of this clinical care standard is limited to patients 45 and over.

What is not covered

The following are outside the scope of this clinical care standard:

• Management of knee pain in people aged under 45 years
• Management of knee pain due to recent trauma or with symptoms that are not suggestive of knee osteoarthritis and where another diagnosis is suspected
• Rehabilitation after knee surgery.

The revised standard was reviewed in consultation with a topic working group which included clinicians, researchers, and consumers. A targeted consultation process was conducted with key stakeholders.

The standard has been endorsed by 22 key organisations.

Further information is available on the evidence sources underpinning the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard (2024).