Osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee is the result of progressive deterioration of the articular cartilage and menisci of the joint. This leads to exposure of the bone surface and chronic excessive joint loading during movement. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, local inflammation, limited movement and loss of knee function.
Treatment depends on the severity of the osteoarthritis. Conservative treatments include: analgesics and corticosteroid injections to relieve pain and inflammation; physiotherapy and exercise to improve function and mobility; and weight loss for people who are overweight or obese, as recommended in NICE's guideline on osteoarthritis in over 16s. When symptoms are severe, surgery may be indicated. Options include high tibial osteotomy and unicompartmental or total knee arthroplasty.