Indications, contraindications and complications of OA knee brace
The primary indication for the use of knee brace in OA patients with osteoarthritis is mild to severe pain and swelling caused by knee OA, and the patients are willing to use and can tolerate the brace. Patients who need to delay corrective osteotomy or knee replacement can also use knee braces. The contraindications are significant changes of knee OA in both compartments of the tibiofemoral joint or severe knee instability. Patients with medial compartment knee OA should not use valgus braces if there is damage to the medial collateral ligament or other medial or anteromedial structures or relaxation caused by chronic diseases. Similarly, in patients with lateral compartment knee OA, varus braces should not be used if there is damage to the lateral collateral ligament or other lateral or posterolateral structures or relaxation caused by chronic lesions. However, patellofemoral joint involvement should not be regarded as a contraindication. The use of knee joint branches may lead to some complications, such as skin damage, cellulitis, allergy, knee joint swelling, and venous thrombosis of lower limbs. Although there are few reports on this at present, attention should be paid to it in clinical application, especially in venous thrombosis of lower limbs.
Knee brace is often neglected in clinical practice, which is helpful to relieve patients' pain and improve their knee function. This should be paid attention to by clinicians. The treatment of knee OA with knee brace in single compartment needs to be further explored in order to guide early intervention and delay the progression of the disease.
