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Meniscus Surgery is Often a Waste of Time and Money
The research pile against meniscectomies is getting large
Healthcare is a mess.
Having been a physical therapist for nearly a decade, I have first-hand experience navigating an infuriating system that routinely lights money on fire.
So many medical procedures are a waste of time and money. Chief among them are arthroscopic knee surgeries.
I am not a surgeon and the following is not medical advice. I am a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and I’m sharing a thorough review of decades of research. If you have concerns about your knees, speak with a healthcare provider.
Knee Scopes vs. Non-Surgical or Sham Treatment
This Cochrane review assessed the benefits and harms of arthroscopic surgery, including debridement, partial meniscectomy, or both, compared with sham surgery or non‐surgical treatment in people with degenerative knee disease (osteoarthritis, degenerative meniscal tears, or both).
The review included 16 trials, consisting of 2105 total participants ranging from 46 to 65 years old:
- four trials (380 participants) compared arthroscopic surgery to placebo surgery,
