Etiology

• Obesity
• Excessive joint loading or overuse (mechanical stress)
• Age (> 55 years)
• Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease > Chronic CPP crystal arthritis
• Family history
• History of joint injury (especially anterior cruciate ligament injury), trauma, and/or surgery

Differential diagnosis

Treatment

Approach

Follow a stepwise approach to treatment: Start with nonpharmacological management, followed by pharmacological and/or surgical treatment if needed.

• Nonpharmacological management: e.g., exercise and weight loss
• Pharmacotherapy
  • First line: e.g., topical or oral NSAIDs
  • Second line: e.g., acetaminophen or intraarticular glucocorticoid injections
• Surgical management: e.g., complete or partial joint replacement (arthroplasty) using an endoprosthesis

Tip

Pharmacotherapy should only be used as a short-term treatment in symptomatic patients; long-term therapy is associated with many adverse effects.