What Causes a Threefold Increase Risk of Total Knee Replacement?
Arthroscopic surgery for your meniscus… better think twice!Has a doctor recently told you that you need to have your knee scoped? It may be a nuisance to live with the pain for a few months while your body heals but will be well worth it to avoid a knee replacement or even to delay it.
Arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscus tears increases risk for eventual knee replacementA recent study published in the journal Osteoarthritis Cartilage showed that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who undergo arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscus tears are at markedly increased risk for potentially having total joint replacement. In the study, 335 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee underwent arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscus tears. They were followed for two years.The authors demonstrated that in patients with knee osteoarthritis, arthroscopic knee surgery with meniscectomy is associated with a 3 fold increase in the risk for future knee replacement surgery.Comment: Don’t do it if you can avoid it. The meniscus serves of function. It helps to cushion the knee. Any meniscus tissue should be preserved.
