RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus physical therapy for traumatic meniscal tears in a young study population: a randomised controlled trial
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 870
OP 876
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2021-105059
VO 56
IS 15
A1 Sabine J A van der Graaff
A1 Susanne M Eijgenraam
A1 Duncan E Meuffels
A1 Eline M van Es
A1 Jan A N Verhaar
A1 Dirk Jan Hofstee
A1 Kiem Gie Auw Yang
A1 Julia C A Noorduyn
A1 Ewoud R A van Arkel
A1 Igor C J B van den Brand
A1 Rob P A Janssen
A1 Wai-Yan Liu
A1 Sita M A Bierma-Zeinstra
A1 Max Reijman
YR 2022
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/56/15/870.abstract
AB Objective To compare outcomes from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus physical therapy in young patients with traumatic meniscal tears.Methods We conducted a multicentre, open-labelled, randomised controlled trial in patients aged 18–45 years, with a recent onset, traumatic, MRI-verified, isolated meniscal tear without knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomised to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or standardised physical therapy with an optional delayed arthroscopic partial meniscectomy after 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome was the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score (best 100, worst 0) at 24 months, which measures patients’ perception of symptoms, knee function and ability to participate in sports activities.Results Between 2014 and 2018, 100 patients were included (mean age 35.1 (SD 8.1), 76% male, 34 competitive or elite athletes). Forty-nine were randomised to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and 51 to physical therapy. In the physical therapy group, 21 patients (41%) received delayed arthroscopic partial meniscectomy during the follow-up period. In both groups, improvement in IKDC scores was clinically relevant during follow-up compared with baseline scores. At 24 months mean (95% CI) IKDC scores were 78 (71 to 84) out of 100 points in the arthroscopic partial meniscectomy group and 78 (71 to 84) in the physical therapy group with a between group difference of 0.1 (95% CI −7.6 to 7.7) points out of 100.Conclusions In this trial involving young patients with isolated traumatic meniscal tears, early arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was not superior to a strategy of physical therapy with optional delayed arthroscopic partial meniscectomy at 24-month follow-up.Trial registration https://www.trialregister.nl/trials.Data are available on reasonable request. Individual de-identified participant data that underlie the results reported in this paper (text, tables, figures and appendices) and the study protocol will be shared if requested. Data will be available beginning 12 months and ending 5 years following publication of this paper. Data will be available for researchers who provide a methodologically sound scientific proposal, which has been approved by an ethical committee. Proof of the latter should be provided. Analyses should achieve the aims as reported in the approved proposal. Proposals for data should be directed to m.reijman@erasmusmc.nl.