Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
We are unable to recommend for or against arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee with a torn meniscus.
Rationale
Currently, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is routinely performed in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee who also have primary signs and symptoms of a torn meniscus.
Herrlin et al.127 compared arthroscopic partial meniscectomy followed by supervised exercise to supervised exercise alone and measured KOOS pain, symptoms, activities of daily life, sports/recreation, and quality of life subscales scores as outcomes. The study was downgraded from moderate- to low- strength because 40% of patients declined participation and the arthroscopic group had non-homogeneous preoperative KOOS scores. The authors reported no significant treatment benefits of meniscectomy using any of the outcomes at eight weeks and six months. Since there was only one low-strength study, the recommendation was graded inconclusive.
Herrlin et al.127 compared arthroscopic partial meniscectomy followed by supervised exercise to supervised exercise alone and measured KOOS pain, symptoms, activities of daily life, sports/recreation, and quality of life subscales scores as outcomes. The study was downgraded from moderate- to low- strength because 40% of patients declined participation and the arthroscopic group had non-homogeneous preoperative KOOS scores. The authors reported no significant treatment benefits of meniscectomy using any of the outcomes at eight weeks and six months. Since there was only one low-strength study, the recommendation was graded inconclusive.