Popular Knee Surgery Ineffective

A popular knee surgery is ineffective at reducing joint pain or improving joint function for those suffering osteoarthritis, Canadian researchers said.

The landmark study, conducted by researchers at The University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute in London, ran from 1999 to 2007, treating 178 London-area men and women with an average age of 60.

All study participants received physical therapy as well as medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but 86 of the patients also received surgery consisting of lavage and arthroscopic debridement. At several time intervals post-treatment, the researchers found both patient groups experienced comparable improvements in joint pain, stiffness and function, but surgery provided no additional benefit.

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure involving insertion of an arthroscope and other instruments into the joint through small incisions to remove cartilage fragments and smooth the joint surfaces.

“This study provides definitive evidence that arthroscopic surgery provides no additional therapeutic value when added to physical therapy and medication for patients with moderate osteoarthritis of the knee,” study co-author Dr. Brian Feagan said in a statement.

The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.