Towards intra-articular therapies for more than just symptom management in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that causes pain and loss of joint function. While currently recommended intra-articular therapies (e.g. corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid) can alleviate some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, they are currently unable to alter the course of disease progression, and the duration of symptom relief is generally short-term. New therapies are under evaluation for treatment of osteoarthritis; these aim to reverse the pathological structural changes associated with the disease and provide longer-lasting pain relief. This article summarises recent guideline recommendations for intra-articular therapies and highlights some of the new therapies currently in clinical evaluation.