Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the major causes of disability worldwide and Nigeria is facing a growing burden of this condition. This scoping review provided some evidences on KOA research in Nigeria while also pointing out the present research gaps with a focus on epidemiology, patient-reported outcomes, rehabilitation, surgical management, and outcome measure validation. Using a literature search of PubMed, AJOL, and DOAJ, studies on KOA were identified in Nigerian populations. The eligible articles included original research, trials, and case reports. Thirteen (13) studies were reviewed where prevalence ranged from 6.5% in hospital cohorts to 19.6% in community surveys. Obesity, prior injuries, and family history were the key risk factors. Exercise interventions such as Pilates, isometric, kinaesthesia: balance - agility training improved pain and function even though long-term outcomes are still scarce. Surgical studies reported the benefits of tranexamic acid and innovative approaches for severe deformities while validated Hausa and Yoruba outcome measures enhanced culturally sensitive assessment. Nigerian KOA research provides valuable insights but it is still limited by small sample sizes, single-centre designs, and lack of longterm data. It would be great if future work prioritizes multicentre trials, integration of validated outcome measures, and multidisciplinary methods.