Against arthroscopy for DJD of knees
The BMJ just published a systematic review comparing knee arthroscopy versus conservative management in patients with degenerative knee disease ( see knee DJD not do arthroscopy bmj2017 in dropbox, or doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017- 016114), an update of a prior review, adding ten new studies. Details: -- 13 RCTs and 12 observational studies were included -- studies were diverse: the analysis included those with symptomatic degenerative knee disease, defined as persistent knee symptoms that affect quality of life and does not respond to conservative treatment, but with or without osteoarthritis and, in those getting arthroscopic surgery, “including any or all of debridement and/or partial meniscectomy”. Those with acute trauma were excluded. Results: -- knee arthroscopy led to a very small reduction in pain in the first three months (mean difference 5.4 on 100 point scale), and very small or no pain reduction up to two years (mean difference of 3.1), high-cert...