Meniscus surgery

More Evidence that Knee Meniscus Surgery Causes Arthritis

You gotta love medicine. In no other profession would something that has been shown to be ineffective continue to be done. As an example, we’ve known for years now that knee meniscus surgery doesn’t work. Despite that, it’s still the most common knee procedure in the United States. We also have some research to show…read more

Is Teen Knee Surgery Appropriate? Do Not Operate on a Meniscus Tear in an 8th Grader

One of the more harmful trends in orthopedic surgery of the last decade is treating kids like they are pro athletes. So this morning I’ll share the case of an 8th grader who tore a meniscus and began a destructive surgical rabbit hole orchestrated by the world’s best orthopedic surgeons. There are no two ways…read more

Should I Get Meniscus Surgery? Stop and Read This…

As you know, if you read this blog, the things I see in the clinic make up a good deal of what I write. This past week I saw a poor guy who was made much worse by meniscus surgery. It wasn’t hard to see why this happened. So if you’re considering meniscus surgery, let…read more

The Orthopedic Civil War over Meniscus Surgery Begins

A new editorial in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research hints at war brewing inside the orthopedic community. You see, we have enough evidence right now to end insurance and other coverage for all common knee meniscus surgeries performed in anyone over 35. However, despite many surgeons proclaiming that they are following evidence-based guidelines, these…read more

Meniscus Treatment Without Surgery?

For many patients, meniscus surgery is the ninth inning or the fourth quarter. You’ve tried everything else—nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid injections, and other traditional treatments—but nothing has eased your pain or fixed your meniscus. The meniscus-treatment bases are loaded, there are two strikes, and now it’s time for the heavy hitter, Meniscus Surgery, to…read more

Does Knee Meniscus Surgery Cause More Arthritis?

Knee meniscus surgery is a bizarre topic for many orthopedic surgeons, sort of like a sacred cow crossing the road in India. While the high-level research continues to show that cutting out pieces of the knee meniscus doesn’t help patients, these surgeries are still common, and many surgeons will defend their use. However, when does…read more

Does Meniscus Repair Work? Another Study Shows the Surgery’s a Sham…

I saw a middle-aged patient yesterday who injured his knee two weeks ago. He had an immediate MRI that showed a meniscus tear and some arthritis. He’s an established patient, so when a prestigious orthopedic clinic told him he needed surgery, he knew enough to check back with me. He, like many other patients, was…read more

Patient Satisfaction with Meniscus Surgery Results Much Lower Than Surgeons Estimate

One in five patients (21%) report that they are dissatisfied with their meniscus surgery results, and another two in five (41%) report that they are only partially satisfied. That’s a whopping three in five patients (62%) who are not fully satisfied after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus. This doesn’t seem to echo surgeons’ claims…read more