Nonoperative treatment of unicompartmental arthritis: from bracing to injection.

The published recommendations for the nonoperative treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee include weight loss, physical therapy to strengthen lower-extremity musculature, nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, nutritional supplements, topical treatments, and steroid injections. Evidenced-based results have been mixed using these treatment modalities. The results using unloader braces and viscosupplementation have also been variable. This article reviews the use of conservative treatment of OA of the knee.