To develop recommendations for appropriate diagnostic procedures and conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis in outpatients.
Following a consensus conference and expert reviews basic recommendations were developed.
While standardized radiographic assessment is mandatory, MRI investigation should be restricted to problems apart from osteoarthritis. Indications for physical therapy, bracing and pharmaco-treatment depend on the severity of the disease. Guidelines for intraarticular injections are presented.
Effective treatment of knee osteoarthritis must be based on available recommendations and guidelines.