Comparing Surgery Versus Standard Physical Therapy in Treating People With a Meniscal Tear and Osteoarthritis

Ki vehet részt

• OA symptoms lasting at least 1 month and managed with medications, activity limitations, and/or physical therapy
• At least one symptom consistent with a torn meniscus. Symptoms may include clicking, catching, popping, giving way, pain with pivot or torque, episodic pain, and/or pain that is acute and localized to one joint line
• Available knee X-ray (within 6 months) and MRI (within 3 years)
• Evidence of osteophyte formation or cartilage fissure, tear, or loss on a knee MRI OR plain radiographic evidence of osteophyte formation or joint space narrowing
• Evidence of a meniscal tear (tear extending to surface of meniscus) on a knee MRI
• Willingness to undergo random assignment and sign an informed consent

Ki nem vehet részt

• Injection with viscosupplementation in the affected knee in the 4 weeks before study entry
• Any medical contraindications to surgery or physical therapy
• Prior surgery on an affected knee
• Unable or unwilling to attend physical therapy sessions at designated locations or in the community
• Inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, pseudogout)
• Radiographic chondrocalcinosis (a condition in which there are deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate [CPPD] crystals in one or more joints that eventually result in damage to the affected joints) AND acute symptomatic pseudogout
• Chronically locked knee
• Kellgren-Lawrence Grade IV status, indicating advanced OA and usually the need for total knee replacement
• Contraindication to MRI
• Both knees are symptomatic for meniscal tears and a candidate for bilateral APMs
• Pregnancy or possible pregnancy
• Claim filed for worker's compensation
• Unable or unwilling to give informed consent