Implication of unloader braces in guideline recommended knee OA management - An expert consensus

Abstract

The goal of the expert consensus recommendation was to provide a tool which helps medical professionals to select the right patient and to provide a guidance for when and how to use an unloader brace for different patient types. Twenty-seven physicians developed recommendations to achieve the best possible treatment outcome for the younger knee osteoarthritis (OA) patient, the active & demanding knee OA patient and the older knee OA patient. Questionnaires on were used to prepare F2F meeting where the experts agreed patient group specific treatment recommendations, which have been consented thereafter in two Delphi rounds. In order to provide specific recommendations three different patients groups have been defined: the younger knee OA patient, the active and demanding knee OA patient and the older knee OA patient. Experts concluded on detailed recommendations for these groups Candidates who will most likely benefit from an unloader brace can be identified by the unloader brace test. The expert consensus approach was utilized to translate knee OA treatment recommendations and guidelines from international societies down to the patient's needs in daily orthopedic and sports medicine practice. By dividing the patients in three different groups patient specific treatment recommendations have been established based on the existing clinical evidence and can be applied in daily practice. An expert consensus can be useful in order to support medical professionals in daily practice as they can offer a more practical patient centric treatment recommendation regarding the use of an unloader brace within knee OA management.