Common knee surgery may do more harm than good, 10-year study shows
Summary
A 10-year Finnish study found that a common knee surgery to trim damaged cartilage does not help middle-aged or older patients with knee pain and may cause faster arthritis and more surgeries. The study suggests physical therapy as a safer first option, and surgery should be considered only carefully.Key Facts
- The study followed patients for 10 years after either real knee surgery or fake surgery with only a skin incision.
- Patients having the actual surgery showed worse pain and faster arthritis progression compared to those who did not.
- The study focused on people with degenerative cartilage tears, common in those over 50, not injuries from accidents.
- Similar procedures in Finland have dropped by 90%, while U.S. rates have decreased more slowly, about 4% per year.
- Medicare data shows knee surgeries decreased from about 169,000 in 2014 to 91,000 in 2024.
- Experts recommend trying physical therapy before considering surgery for degenerative meniscus tears.
- Regional differences exist in U.S. surgery rates, with more surgeries in the South than the Northeast.
- A European and U.S. orthopedic committee says either surgery or non-surgical treatment can work, but physical therapy should come first.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
