The world’s most common orthopedic procedure — knee arthroscopy — is frequently a waste of time and money and should almost never be performed on patients with degenerative knee disease.
That’s the conclusion of an international panel that strongly recommends against arthroscopic surgery in a new guideline published by the BMJ. The panel found that, while performed 2 million times per year worldwide, knee arthroscopy offers minimal benefits to patients with degenerative knee disease, which affects about 25 percent of people older than 50.
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What sense does it make to perform arthriscopic surgery on a knee that an MRI revealed, (pre-surgery), as well as photos taken, ( at time of surgery to repair a torn MENISCUS), on a severely arthritic knee that was/is deforming bone matter, as well as depleting cartilidge???? Now I have NO MENISCUS & AM IN HORRIBLE PAIN!!! Also, as a result, my leg, (beneath the knee is bowing out & have to wear a brace to try and slow down, (BUT NOT ABLE TO CEASE) it from continual disfigurement??? So, what was the point? Is there a way to scrape or somehow remove arthritis from a knee, as well as implanting a “prosthesis” Meniscus to avoid a full knee replacement? Does it really make sense to opt to go MOST INVASIVE rather than MOST PRACTICAL until it’s time to replace BOTH KNEES at an older age? I’ll be 59 years of age in roughly 2 weeks,…….. Thank You for your HONEST & PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK……… Sincerely, Mary
Very informative. Checkibg alternatives after playing sports at high level and having a TKR in my right knee. Looking for all options since I hav OA and the left knee is the issue now.
What a waste to have an arthroscope and go through a fair bit of pain when most people need a full knee replacement . Sometimes you wonder if the medical profession has a different agenda when it comes to pain and suffering as opposed to the well being of the patients.
Susan, I think you may find that this restores some hope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7srQz2-ku8k
There are certain indications where it definitely works ,in fact it saves your joint from osteoarthritis
Dr. Herode, please tell me an example in which arthroscopic surgery has been proven to save a joint from osteoarthritis.
Sir..i have a ACL tear of my right knee…should i go for surgery…i m 51 years of age…playing badminton reguraly before the injury…i have done physiotherapy since 6 month….plz advise