Surgery versus physical therapy for a meniscal tear and osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Whether arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for symptomatic patients with a meniscal tear and knee osteoarthritis results in better functional outcomes than nonoperative therapy is uncertain.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial involving symptomatic patients 45 years of age or older with a meniscal tear and evidence of mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis on imaging. We randomly assigned 351 patients to surgery and postoperative physical therapy or to a standardized physical-therapy regimen (with the option to cross over to surgery at the discretion of the patient and surgeon). The patients were evaluated at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was the difference between the groups with respect to the change in the Western Ontario and McMaste

SUBMITTER: Katz JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3690119 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature