A review on joint distraction including non-invasive alternatives for knee joint distraction

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease common in middle-aged and elderly people and has a large impact on one’s quality of life and wellbeing. Osteoarthritis is classified as a disease in which the cartilage of the joint degenerates with complications such as joint inflammation and swelling of the joint. This eventually can lead to severe pain and loss of function of the joint. In this research study the causes, effects and treatments of osteoarthritis are described. A new option for the treatment of osteoarthritis is joint distraction, in which the joint is unloaded using invasive external distraction frames but at the same time joint movement and rotation are still allowed. The possible mechanism and effects of joint distraction in the ankle and the knee are described in this article followed by several possible non-invasive alternatives for the mechanical unloading of the knee joint. Finally the differences in the prevalence and progression of ankle and knee osteoarthritis are described to illustrate the need for a non-invasive knee joint distraction device. Today’s options to achieve knee joint distraction in combination with joint movement and joint rotation including a non-invasive device are not sufficient and further research and development is required.