Summary findings from literature review of English language papers on treatments for osteoarthritis of the knee joint
| Intervention |
Total studies No (column %) |
RCTs3-150
No (% of total studies) | Positive outcome No (% of total studies) | Average percentage dropout/lost to follow up (range) | Average sample size— People (range) | Average duration—Days (range) |
| Alternative & complementary | 49 (5.3) | 29 (59) | 43 (88) | 8 (0 to 34) | 40 (12 to 180) | 56 (1 to 183) |
| Drug (injected) | 89 (9.6) | 50 (56) | 87 (98) | 11 (0 to 67) | 63 (17 to 5000) | 90.5 (7 to 4380) |
| Drug (oral) | 461 (49.6) | 330 (71.6) | 447 (97) | 12 (0 to 78) | 76 (7 to 22 938) | 25 (<1 to 3102) |
| Education | 33 (3.5) | 14 (42) | 29 (88) | 14.5 (0 to 31) | 100 (1 to 707) | 252 (70 to 4380) |
| Physiotherapy & exercise | 60 (6.4) | 24 (40) | 55 (92) | 10 (0 to 53) | 54 (1 to 439) | 101.5 (4 to 3540) |
| Surgery | 238 (25.6) | 13 (6) | 215 (90) | 8 (0 to 100) | 95 (8 to 30 003) | 1825 (14 to 8030) |
| Total | 930 (100) | 460 (49.5) | 874 (94) | 11 | 77 | 84 |
NB: The variation in duration and sample size is largely determined by the methodology employed to investigate the intervention, rather than the intervention itself.
↵3-150 RCTs = randomised controlled trials.