Arthroscopic Meniscectomy May Worsen Long-Term Knee Health in Osteoarthritis
A Finnish study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for knee osteoarthritis offered little long-term benefit and may worsen outcomes over 10 years compared with sham surgery, suggesting the meniscal tear is often not the sole source of pain. The findings support nonoperative approaches (anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, icing, rest) and reserve surgery for select cases, with knee replacement considered when OA is advanced.
