Early surgery vs physical therapy for meniscal tears

Editor's Note

In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial from the Netherlands, physical therapy was noninferior to early arthroscopic partial menisectomy for improving knee function in patients with nonobstructive meniscal tears.

In this analysis of 321 (159 surgery, 162 physical therapy) patients, knee function improved by 20.4 points in the physical therapy group versus 26.2 points in the surgery group over a 24-month period. The difference did not exceed the noninferiority margin of 8 points.

Based on the results of this study, physical therapy may be considered an alternative to surgery for patients with nonobstructive meniscal tears, the researchers conclude.