|
|
Back to Archive Index |
 SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Still Plays a Role in Arthritis Arthroscopic knee surgery, one of the most common operations in America, still has a role for some patients with osteoarthritis, particularly those who also have a large, painful cartilage tear. A well-publicized study in the September 11, 2008, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that arthroscopic surgery was no better than medication and physical therapy for relieving the pain and stiffness of moderate to severe arthritis. The Canadian investigators randomized 92 people to arthroscopic surgery and 86 to non-operative treatment, which included 1 physical therapy session per week for 12 weeks with a home physical therapy program. They also took acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucosamine, and had an injection of the knee lubricant hyaluronic acid. After 2 years, both groups of patients reported the same pain levels, physical function, and overall quality of life. However, the study excluded patients who were believed to have a large knee cartilage tear based on clinical examination, or, in a small number of cases, identified through magnetic resonance imaging, noted Robert G. Marx, M.D., Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, in an editorial in the same issue. Therefore, the people included in the study were not good candidates for arthroscopic surgery because their symptoms were due only to arthritis. Arthroscopic surgery can be very useful for people who have osteoarthritis and another knee injury, such as a painful cartilage tear, he said. If you are young, have mild osteoarthritis, a history of injury, and clear damage to knee cartilage, then you would be a good candidate for arthroscopic surgery. In fact, your cartilage tear would be unlikely to heal without surgery. But if you have symptoms that are only due to severe osteoarthritis, it's unlikely you will benefit from arthroscopy. |
|
|
|
Disclaimer and Copyright · Site design by Marketorial.com
|