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How Much Does Knee Surgery Help?

Tuesday, I posted about a 2002 study on arthroscopy for osteoarthritis. In the past few days, the New York Times highlighted a study published this year. As always they have very readable articles. http://nyti.ms/binvsE  Take a look first hand or read on for my synopsis.

The study followed two groups of people with a torn anterior crutiate ligament (ACL): one group received physical therapy and the other surgical intervention. The upshot of the research was that outcomes for the two groups were virtually the same after two years. The rebuilding of the ACL in the knee resulted in greater stability, but not in a knee that was necessarily healthier than one without surgery. The researchers are suggesting that as many as half of ACL surgeries are unnecessary. 

Published in 2009, a ten year retrospective study reviewed the outcomes of various ACL interventions and noted that stability in the knee joint is often associated with health. And indeed, those with the surgery have greater stability. But in terms of functional capacity, those opting for a conservative treatment plan did just as well.

This is again a surgery where surgeons and patients report good outcomes.  But what if, as the researchers suggest, half of the people getting surgery don't really need it and would do just as well with conservative treatment?

In the last post of this series, I am going to invite discussion around the difficult topic of how any of us can make wiser decisions related to surgery or not.

submitted by Cynthia Allen