Osteoarthritis is a pandemic degenerative joint problem which affects cartilage and surrounding tissues. According to the World Health Organization world's 10% population of age 60 or older are more likely to have this problem. Hand joints are the prominent joints affected by osteoarthritis. Scientists carried out a systematic review, which provides the basis for medical practice guidelines implying directions for new research. This review was intended to update prior systematic reviews that involved all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, only non-surgical treatments were evaluated. The RCTs which were reported between March 2008 and December 2015 were included in the prior systematic reviews.

During the study, a total of 95 RCTs analysing various hand OA pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies were evaluated. The quality of techniques used in RCTs was improved since the last update, with studies that presented methods of randomisation, blinding, and allocation concealment. Although, these trials acquire fail due to lack of consistent case definition and standardised outcome assessments limited to hand OA. Only 25% of RCTs described the appropriate technique used to ensure allocation concealment because certain evaluated hand joints number and location continue to be under-reported. It is the chief shortcomings of published RCTs. However, no meta-analysis was performed with these trials due to marked study heterogeneity, a small number of identical comparators, and insufficient statistical data in the published RCTs.

The overall study figures out an improvement in whole design and  RCTs manipulation. However, there is a need for more large RCTs with a more strong methodological approach which is specific to hand OA. It would help to compose clinically relevant conclusions regarding available diverse treatment option's effectiveness.