Arthroscopic knee surgery does not necessarily benefit patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a new study in the September 11, 2008 issues of the New England Journal of Medicine .

Approximately 27 million people in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, which commonly affects the knees. In 2006, about 985,000 Americans underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. It is estimated that a third of these surgeries were performed for osteoarthritis. Canadian researchers recruited 178 patients with knee osteoarthritis. All of these patients received physical therapy and medical treatment, including anti-inflammatory drugs or knee injections. Approximately half of the patients also had arthroscopic surgery. The researchers found that, in the first three months, the patients who were treated with surgery did better. However, after two years, there was no significant difference in the conditions of those who received surgery and those who received only physical therapy and medicines.

The results of this study support the findings of a previous study from the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2002. Although arthroscopic knee surgery may not be effective for osteoarthritis, it may still be a good option for patients with other types of knee problems.

Source

NEJM. 2008;359:1097-1107.