The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon board of directors approved new Appropriate Use Criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome and knee osteoarthritis.
Here are five things to know:
1. The AUCs complement the clinical practice guidelines, "Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" and "Surgical Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee."
2.The carpal tunnel syndrome AUC includes 135 diagnostic circumstances to help orthopedic surgeons decide if a patient is experiencing carpal tunnel. The AUC also suggests various treatments, including non-operative and surgical options.
3. The knee osteoarthritis AUC touches on three surgical treatments — total knee replacement, unicompartmental knee replacement and realignment osteotomy — and provides details on when a surgeon should perform each surgery.
4. The knee osteoarthritis AUC encompasses 864 circumstances, which address pain, knee instability and alignment as well as patient age, among other details.
5. Providers may access the criteria at OrthoGuidelines.org.