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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and degenerative musculoskeletal disease that causes involvement in all joints and destroys the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Although OA mostly affects large joints such as the knee and hip joints, it most commonly affects the knee joint. Its prevalence increases with age, and it is most common in patients over 65 years of age. OA etiology is multifactorial. It includes structural and mechanical reasons. A large number of patients apply to the physician with these complaints because of the pain in the affected joint causes limitation of movement and consequently loss of function. The aim of OA treatment is to relieve the patient's complaints. Conservative treatments such as patient information and education, diet, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, intra-articular injections are recommended in the current literature. When such conservative treatments are not sufficient, surgical treatment may be considered. OA is one of the major diseases that cause a decrease in the quality of life in primary care, and family physicians should focus on counseling in order to create patient education and lifestyle changes. In this review, the approach to patients with knee OA who applied to the Primary Healthcare Institution is explained in the light of current treatment guidelines. |
