Summary Report of the Arthritis Foundation and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society’s Symposium on Targets for Osteoarthritis Research: Part 2: Treatment Options

Abstract

This second of a 2-part series of articles recounts the key points presented in a collaborative symposium sponsored jointly by the Arthritis Foundation and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society with the intent to survey current treatment options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the foot and ankle. A meeting was held virtually on December 10, 2021. A group of experts were invited to present brief synopses of the current state of knowledge and research in this area. Topics were chosen by meeting organizers, who then identified and invited the expert speakers. Part 2 overviews the current treatment options, including orthotics, non–joint destructive procedures, as well as arthroscopies and arthroplasties in ankles and feet. Opportunities for future research are also discussed, such as developments in surgical options for ankle and the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The OA scientific community, including funding agencies, academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, must recognize the importance to patients of addressing the foot and ankle with improved basic, translational, and clinical research. Level of Evidence: Level V, review article/expert opinion.