Knee surgery for cartilage damage does not benefit patients, study suggests
Summary
A 10-year study found that a common knee surgery for meniscus tears does not help patients and may cause worse knee problems over time. Patients who had this surgery had poorer knee function and more arthritis compared to those who had fake surgery without any actual procedure.Key Facts
- The surgery studied is called partial meniscectomy, which trims damaged knee cartilage called the meniscus.
- The meniscus is a rubbery pad in the knee that cushions the thigh and shin bones.
- 146 patients aged 35 to 65 from Finland were followed for 10 years after either meniscus surgery or fake surgery (sham surgery).
- Patients with real surgery had worse knee function, more osteoarthritis, and more follow-up surgeries than those with sham surgery.
- Many meniscus tears show up in MRI scans of healthy people without causing symptoms.
- Recent medical guidelines now suggest waiting longer and trying physiotherapy before surgery.
- Some knee problems with mechanical symptoms might still benefit from surgery, but pain alone is difficult to treat with surgery.
- Organizations like the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons still recommend this surgery despite evidence of limited benefit.
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