Attention Athletes:
Runners, Cyclists, Swimmers, Walkers, Cross fitters, Racers, Competitors, Tennis Players, Bowlers, Golfers
Released: 22-Aug-2014 12:45 PM EDT
News wise — Hamilton, ON (August 25, 2014) – A common knee surgery may not be beneficial and should be done less often, say McMaster University researchers. I Blogged about this over two years ago but now there is a scientific study to support my medical advice to my patients
Their study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) today, says middle-aged or older patients with mild or no osteoarthritis of the knee may not benefit from the procedure of arthroscopic knee surgery. Each year more than four million such keyhole surgeries are performed worldwide for degenerative meniscus tears.
This study confirms that surgery should not be the initial option for middle-aged or older patients, as there is limited evidence supporting partial meniscectomy surgery for meniscus tears “Other treatments should be used first.”
The meta-analysis review evaluated seven published randomized control trials on the success of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in patients with no to mild osteoarthritis compared to non-operative treatments. The sample total was 811 knees in 805 patients with a mean age of 56 years. In four trials, there was no short-term pain relief in the first six months after surgery for patients with some osteoarthritis; nor was there improvement in long-term function up to two years later in five trials.
The operation had become popular because as people age, the meniscus in the knee thins and becomes less flexible and more susceptible to tearing, causing pain and mechanical issues. This surgical procedure involves making small incisions to remove the torn fragments from the damaged meniscus. Although the surgery is minimally invasive, there may still be complications.
Previous studies showed that for patients with severe knee arthritis, arthroscopic knee surgery is not effective for long-term symptom relief. You may imagine what has transpired in the orthopedic community since this article was published.
We at the Regenerative Pain Center have a proven and very viable option, Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Intervention/Stem Cells. Incidentally, I have received inquiries this week from four physicians interested in stem cell intervention for their own arthritic limitations.
Tags: arthritis, Osteoarthritis, stem cells