The book looks at the mechanisms for joint failure and how this may be due to abnormal cartilage or disease in other joint tissues. Significant coverage is given to exciting new evidence on disease-modifying drugs and methodologies for evaluating outcomes of treatment with these options. It isbecoming increasingly recognised that optimal management of osteoarthritis requires a comprehensive program involving drugs and nonmedicinal components and, in some cases, surgery. Chapters on both non-surgical and surgical therapy are contained in the management section. The full coverage given inthis book allows the physician to consider and choose the right blend of treatment for each patient from the range available whether physical, pharmacologic, surgical or supportive. The book is sympathetic to the significant differences that often exist between the perception of the patient andthat of the physician regarding what's important in treatment and coverage is therefore given to the outcome measures needed for optimal evaluation of both.