Arthroscopic Surgery Provides Few Benefits

It's estimated that more than half of Americans over 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that strikes the knee, causes pain and stiffness, and can make even the simplest exercise like walking difficult. Now a study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that one form of surgery used to lessen joint pain is no better in the long run than physical therapy and medication.

Common Knee Surgery Does Very Little for Some, Study Suggests

The Finnish study does not indicate that surgery never helps; there is consensus that it should be performed in some circumstances, especially for younger patients and for tears from acute sports injuries. But about 80 percent of tears develop from wear and aging, and some researchers believe surgery in those cases should be significantly limited.

Common Knee Surgery Ineffective, Study Says

A common surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee isn't effective in treating patients with moderate to severe forms of the disease, according to a new study. Canadian researchers found that such patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery did no better afterwards than those treated with medicine and physical therapy. The study bolsters previous findings.

Needless procedures: knee arthroscopy is one of the most common but least effective surgeries

Many studies have now shown the outcomes from arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis and degenerative meniscal tears are no better than the outcomes from placebo (fake) surgery or other treatments (such as exercise therapy). A recent summary of these studies made “a strong recommendation against the use of arthroscopy in nearly all patients with degenerative knee disease” (osteoarthritis and degenerative tears of the menisci) and concluded “further research is unlikely to alter this recommendation”.

Surgery is not always the best option for repairing a damaged meniscus

First, never consider having a surgical procedure without a second opinion from someone you trust. By this I do not mean a family friend, I mean someone with great credentials in your local community.

This orthopedic surgery is the world’s most common. But patients rarely benefit, a panel says

The world’s most common orthopedic procedure — knee arthroscopy — is frequently a waste of time and money and should almost never be performed on patients with degenerative knee disease.

When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

A patient comes in with knee pain, and an MRI shows a torn meniscus; naturally, the patient wants it fixed, and the surgeon wants to fix it and send the patient for physical therapy. And patients do get better, just not necessarily from the surgery.

Why ‘Useless’ Surgery Is Still Popular

The latest controversy — and the operation that arguably has been studied the most in randomized clinical trials — is surgery for a torn meniscus, a sliver of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee.