PRACTICE CHANGER
Do not refer patients with a degenerative medial meniscus tear for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, because surgery outcomes are no better than those of conservative treatment.1
Strength of recommendation
B: Based on a single high-quality randomized controlled trial.1
Illustrative case
A 40-year-old man comes to your office for follow-up of medial left knee pain he’s had for three months that hasn’t responded to conservative treatment. The pain developed gradually, without a history of trauma. The patient has no signs of degenerative joint disease on x-ray, but MRI reveals a tear of the medial meniscus. Should you refer him for meniscectomy?
Study summary>>