Exercise therapy versus arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for degenerative meniscal tear in middle aged patients: randomised controlled trial with two year follow-up.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine if exercise therapy is superior to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for knee function in middle aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears.

Design

Randomised controlled superiority trial.

Setting

Orthopaedic departments at two public hospitals and two physiotherapy clinics in Norway.

Participants

140 adults, mean age 49.5 years (range 35.7-59.9), with degenerative medial meniscal tear verified by magnetic resonance imaging. 96% had no definitive radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis.

Interventions

12 week supervised exercise therapy alone or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy alone.

Main outcome measures

Intention to treat analysis of between group difference in change in knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (K

SUBMITTER: Kise NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5136715 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature