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Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears : 10-year follow-up of the OMEX randomised controlled trial

Berg, Bjørnar ; Roos, Ewa M. LU ; Englund, Martin LU orcid ; Kise, Nina Jullum ; Engebretsen, Lars ; Eftang, Cathrine Nørstad and Risberg, May Arna (2025) In British Journal of Sports Medicine 59(2). p.91-98
Abstract

Objective: To evaluate radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression, development of knee OA, patient-reported outcomes and knee muscle strength at 10-year follow-up after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) or exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears. Methods: Randomised controlled trial including 140 participants, with a degenerative meniscal tear and no or minimal radiographic OA changes. Participants were randomised to either APM or 12 weeks of exercise therapy (1:1 ratio). The primary outcome was knee OA progression assessed by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) atlas sum score (sum of medial and lateral compartment joint space narrowing and osteophyte score). Secondary outcomes included... (More)

Objective: To evaluate radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression, development of knee OA, patient-reported outcomes and knee muscle strength at 10-year follow-up after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) or exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears. Methods: Randomised controlled trial including 140 participants, with a degenerative meniscal tear and no or minimal radiographic OA changes. Participants were randomised to either APM or 12 weeks of exercise therapy (1:1 ratio). The primary outcome was knee OA progression assessed by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) atlas sum score (sum of medial and lateral compartment joint space narrowing and osteophyte score). Secondary outcomes included incidence of radiographic and symptomatic knee OA, patient-reported pain and knee function and isokinetic knee muscle strength. Results: The adjusted mean difference in change in the OARSI sum score was 0.39 (95% CI -0.19 to 0.97), with more progression in the APM group. The incidence of radiographic knee OA was 23% in the APM group and 20% in the exercise group (adjusted risk difference 3% (95% CI -13% to 19%)). No clinically relevant differences were found in patient-reported outcomes or isokinetic knee muscle strength. Conclusion: No differences in radiographic knee OA progression and comparable rates of knee OA development were observed 10 years following APM and exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears. Both treatments were associated with improved patient-reported pain and knee function.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
arthroscopy, exercise
in
British Journal of Sports Medicine
volume
59
issue
2
pages
91 - 98
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:39326908
  • scopus:85205481765
ISSN
0306-3674
DOI
10.1136/bjsports-2024-108644
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5cf2887c-d7d4-4fa5-a8b0-36e50bd9b956
date added to LUP
2024-12-20 10:07:28
date last changed
2025-07-05 15:32:29
@article{5cf2887c-d7d4-4fa5-a8b0-36e50bd9b956,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: To evaluate radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression, development of knee OA, patient-reported outcomes and knee muscle strength at 10-year follow-up after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) or exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears. Methods: Randomised controlled trial including 140 participants, with a degenerative meniscal tear and no or minimal radiographic OA changes. Participants were randomised to either APM or 12 weeks of exercise therapy (1:1 ratio). The primary outcome was knee OA progression assessed by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) atlas sum score (sum of medial and lateral compartment joint space narrowing and osteophyte score). Secondary outcomes included incidence of radiographic and symptomatic knee OA, patient-reported pain and knee function and isokinetic knee muscle strength. Results: The adjusted mean difference in change in the OARSI sum score was 0.39 (95% CI -0.19 to 0.97), with more progression in the APM group. The incidence of radiographic knee OA was 23% in the APM group and 20% in the exercise group (adjusted risk difference 3% (95% CI -13% to 19%)). No clinically relevant differences were found in patient-reported outcomes or isokinetic knee muscle strength. Conclusion: No differences in radiographic knee OA progression and comparable rates of knee OA development were observed 10 years following APM and exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears. Both treatments were associated with improved patient-reported pain and knee function.</p>}},
  author       = {{Berg, Bjørnar and Roos, Ewa M. and Englund, Martin and Kise, Nina Jullum and Engebretsen, Lars and Eftang, Cathrine Nørstad and Risberg, May Arna}},
  issn         = {{0306-3674}},
  keywords     = {{arthroscopy; exercise}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{91--98}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Sports Medicine}},
  title        = {{Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy versus exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal tears : 10-year follow-up of the OMEX randomised controlled trial}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108644}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bjsports-2024-108644}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}