Knee Surgery or Physical Therapy? Studies Investigate Effectiveness

A recent New York Times article discusses the results of the latest research studies investigating the effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery for people with torn meniscus. One of these studies, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, compared the results of real surgical procedures vs. fake operations. The purpose was to investigate whether or not people are undergoing unnecessary surgery as arthroscopic surgery on the meniscus is the most common orthopedic procedure in the United States.

The study, conducted in Finland, included two groups of patients. Each group received anesthesia and incisions with one group actually undergoing the full arthroscopic procedure, and the other group a simulated procedure. A year later most patients said their knees felt better regardless of which type of surgery they had. Researchers acknowledged that there could be a placebo effect, however, the results were too strong for that to fully explain everything.

Another study published in 2002 found that patients who received real surgeries fared no better than patients who received sham surgeries. And yet another study published in 2008 found that patients who underwent surgery did no better than those who participated in physical therapy and medication management. So which is more effective surgery or physical therapy? Keep reading!

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