Researchers suggest new approach for testing treatments for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is among the top 10 conditions contributing to Years Lived with Disability—a measure reflecting the impact an illness has on quality of life before it resolves or leads to death. To date, no treatments are approved that slow disease progression. Treatment development has been frustrating in part because animal models of disease caused by joint trauma poorly reflect human disease which usually occurs over many years and without preceding trauma.    Researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine now suggest studying persons after they sustain knee trauma such as anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL).