Especially for young people under 40 with a meniscus tear, surgery is often recommended as a standard procedure. The joint function in the knee is too important for this population group. But is surgery still the gold standard for such an injury? Little literature exists comparing two different treatment options. Researchers from Denmark tried to fill the gap in this.
The study compared the outcomes of surgery and a 12-week targeted training and exercise plan, as well as patient education. For this purpose, 63 patients between 18 and 40 years of age with a meniscus tear detected by MRI were randomised: either for surgery or for the training group. Important: all participants also complained of mechanical restrictions in the knee joint.
After three, six and twelve months, an evaluation was carried out to determine whether the knee restrictions persisted. Individual elements of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were used for this purpose. The KOOS score is used to evaluate the functional status and quality of life of patients with different types of knee injuries who are at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.2
Of the 63 participants, 55 completed the 12-month follow-up. And although no group had perfect results, there was a clear difference: in the surgery arm, 35% of patients reported still suffering from mechanical limitations in the knee after 12 months, while this was true for 69% of participants in the training group.
The study authors emphasise, however, that although surgery for a meniscus tear leads to better results in terms of mechanical limitations in the knee, this does not apply to pain, function, and quality of life.
The data suggest that surgery may still be the treatment of choice for young people with a meniscal tear and limited mechanical movement. However, it is important to remember that patients who do not complain of knee joint restrictions may be more likely to benefit from a targeted exercise plan. The study shows that surgery did not lead to a more significant reduction in pain or improved quality of life.