With respect to function, this review identified moderate-certainty evidence that knee arthroscopy results in a very small improvement (4.9 on a 100-point scale) in the short term and very small or no improved function up to 2 years.
My treatment plans outperform arthroscopic surgery in the first 6 months according to my data. You can download an infographic that compares my treatment to arthroscopic surgery HERE. It shows that at the end of 6 months, on average, my patients are 61% better and the arthroscopic patients are 34% better.
May 30, 2017
BMJ Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects and complications of arthroscopic surgery compared with conservative management strategies in patients with degenerative knee disease.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Pain, function, adverse events.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Google Scholar and Open Grey up to August 2016.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
For effects, randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing arthroscopic surgery with a conservative management strategy (including sham surgery) in patients with degenerative knee disease. For complications, RCTs and observational studies.
REVIEW METHODS
Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias for patient-important outcomes. A parallel guideline committee (BMJ Rapid Recommendations) provided input on the design and interpretation of the systematic review, including selection of patient-important outcomes. We used the GRADE approach to rate the certainty (quality) of the evidence.
RESULTS
We included 13 RCTs and 12 observational studies. With respect to pain, the review identified high-certainty evidence that knee arthroscopy results in a very small reduction in pain up to 3 months (mean difference =5.4 on a 100-point scale, 95% CI 2.0 to 8.8) and very small or no pain reduction up to 2 years (mean difference =3.1, 95% CI -0.2 to 6.4) when compared with conservative management. With respect to function, the review identified moderate-certainty evidence that knee arthroscopy results in a very small improvement in the short term (mean difference =4.9 on a 100-point scale, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.4) and very small or no improved function up to 2 years (mean difference =3.2, 95% CI -0.5 to 6.8). Alternative presentations of magnitude of effect, and associated sensitivity analyses, were consistent with the findings of the primary analysis. Low-quality evidence suggested a very low probability of serious complications after knee arthroscopy.
CONCLUSIONS
Over the long term, patients who undergo knee arthroscopy versus those who receive conservative management strategies do not have important benefits in pain or function.
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