Effect of Early Surgery vs Physical Therapy on Knee Function Among Patients With Nonobstructive Meniscal Tears: The ESCAPE Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Despite recent studies suggesting arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) is not more effective than physical therapy (PT), the procedure is still frequently performed in patients with meniscal tears.

Objective

To assess whether PT is noninferior to APM for improving patient-reported knee function in patients with meniscal tears.

Design, setting, and participants

Noninferiority, multicenter, randomized clinical trial conducted in 9 hospitals in the Netherlands. Participants were aged 45 to 70 years with nonobstructive meniscal tears (ie, no locking of the knee joint). Patients with knee instability, severe osteoarthritis, and body mass index greater than 35 were excluded. Recruitment took place between July 17, 2013, and November 4, 2015. Participants were

SUBMITTER: van de Graaf VA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6583004 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature