Also Included In: Bones / Orthopedics
Article Date: 01 Oct 2012 - 1:00 PDT
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Unnecessary Knee Arthroscopies Still Being Performed?
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Arthroscopy is still commonly being performed on people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee despite evidence against the effectiveness of the surgical procedure for this condition, according to research published in the October 1 issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.
Although the number of knee arthroscopies had declined overall, rates had remained steady in those with osteoarthritis in the 9 years to 30 June 2009, according to Dr Megan Bohensky from the Centre of Research Excellence in Patient Safety and coauthors, who studied usage patterns in Victorian hospitals.
According to the authors, research published 10 years ago and backed by subsequent studies questions the benefit of knee arthroscopy in patients with osteoarthritis.
"Because arthroscopic procedures can be associated with complications, it is important that they are used only when they are likely to have measurable positive outcomes", the authors wrote.
"Given the uncertain evidence of effectiveness, general practitioners should encourage patients with OA of the knee who have no evidence of major mechanical derangement to try non-surgical treatments in the first instance", they wrote.
In an accompanying editorial, Professor Rachelle Buchbinder, director of Monash Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cabrini Health and Professor Ian Harris from the South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales wrote that it was difficult to "shift the convictions of many surgeons".
They wrote that in contrast to new drugs, promising new surgical interventions continued to be introduced into practice before their proper evaluation.
"The use of arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis has been allowed to continue, exposing patients to an intervention that is at best ineffective, and at worst, harmful", they wrote.
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The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
MLA
n.p. "Unnecessary Knee Arthroscopies Still Being Performed?." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 1 Oct. 2012. Web.
8 Oct. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/250845.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/250845.php.
Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.
Visitor Opinions (latest shown first)
Knee Arthroscopies - BIG Benefit
posted by MEC on 7 Oct 2012 at 9:27 amWISH knee arthroscopies were still available! I suffer from 'horrible' knee problems. Way back in the early 90s when I was suffering badly from arthritis in my knees, especially my right knee, I had a R. knee arthroscopy. Bliss. Worked like a dream. NO further problems with my R. knee for 10 years.
In 2003 it 'blew' again. I was denied an arthroscopy, constantly being 'told' - "...useless procedure, has been determined 'useless' by 'a' stufy!" Load of tosh.
Have problems with both knees but R. is still the worst. Every so often it is impossible to walk. Am now living in France and even here they 'refuse' to acknowledge that a knee arthroscopy is of any benefit to the patient.
Right. Put em in MY shoes and see how they get on!
In order to cope I wear a steel support open knee brace. It helps, but nothing like to the wonderful effects from that arthtroscopy. Still bless that super surgeon - he knew his stuff.
When it blows again, as no doubt it will, I shall go camp out on the hospital door step until they *listen to me.
Meantime, be ASSURED knee arthroscopy works - best ever treatment for blasted OA of the knee joint. An NO refuse to have ANYTHING to do with cortisone - deadly drug, horrendous side effects, and a definite no-no for anyone with glaucoma. Hyaluronic Acid, Synvisc? Told not efficacious. But, 'I' do knpw *what 'is' effacious, and that is a knee arthroscopy done by a surgeon who 'knows' what he 'is' doing.
Ah-Ha, mebbe that is the problem. Surgeons 'don't' know the procedure properly and are but ham fisted and inept.
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