Orthopedic surgeons have performed fewer knee arthroscopies to treat osteoarthritis since a study found the procedure did little to treat the disease, according to Clinical Advisor.
Here are four things to know:
1. A 2002 clinical trial studying osteoarthritis patients found no difference between arthroscopy and a placebo procedure.
2. Knee arthroscopies increased from 155,057 in 1998 to 172,317 in 2006.
3. On average, a 4,000-case decrease was observed in the frequency of knee arthroscopies performed for osteoarthritis, signaling a 10.6 percent to 7.2 percent reduction.
4. Arthroscopies for osteoarthritis with a meniscus tear increased from 20.3 percent to 22 percent, signaling an average of 6,400 additional cases per year.
The authors concluded, "These findings support the notion that practicing orthopedic surgeons do modify their approach to treatment in response to well-publicized, high-quality clinical outcomes research."
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