Meniscectomy in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis and a Meniscal Tear?

Overall, knee osteoarthritis may affect more than 250 million people and is a leading contributor to disability worldwide.1 Persuasive evidence from randomized, controlled trials indicates that arthroscopic débridement, lavage, or both are no more effective than sham surgery and nonoperative alternatives for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.2,3 Nevertheless, arthroscopic surgery is often still performed. A common justification for arthroscopic surgery is the presence of symptoms due to mechanical factors. These symptoms, such as locking or clicking or acute pain localized to one joint, are generally regarded as arising from a torn meniscus. However, asymptomatic meniscal tears are highly prevalent among people . . .