The role of analgesics and intra-articular injections in disease management.

The focus of pharmacologic treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) includes targets from the cell and cytokine level to the larger joint components such as cartilage, bone, innervations, and vascular supply. The most important goals of therapy in patients who have OA are pain management, improvement in function and disability, and ultimately disease modification. This article discusses the current pharmacologic regimens available to address these goals. Specific attention is paid to current trends and controversies related to pharmacologic management, including the use of oral, topical, and injectable agents.