Role of un-loader bracing in the management of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis

Aim: to provide the documented efficacy of off-loader knee braces for improving symptomatology associated with painful disabling medial compartment knee oa. methods: we prospectively enrolled 80 patients with symptomatic medial compartmental knee oa to treatment with valgus knee brace. all patients were assessed at 6 months. 4 patients lost follow up. the primary outcome measure was pain severity as measured on a visual analog scale. secondary outcome measures were knee function score using womac and correction of varus alignment on ap whole-leg radiographs taken with the patient in the standing position. results: there were total 80 patients of which 32(40%) were male while 48(60%) were female. the mean age of the patients was 48±8.93. we observed statistically significant differences in mean outcome assessments (pain severity,walking distance) by using un-loader bracing in the management of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis as (p-value<0.05). conclusion: off-loader braces are effective in mediating pain relief in conjunction with knee oa.