[RESEARCH] Early Surgery or Exercise and Education for Meniscal Tears in Young Adults

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‍‍In a recently published parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 121 young adults (18-40 years of age) with MRI–verified meniscal tears eligible for surgery were randomly assigned to surgery (partial meniscectomy or meniscal repair) or 12-week supervised exercise therapy and education with the option of surgery later if needed.
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KEY FINDINGS

In total, 107 participants (88%) completed the 12-month follow-up, 16 participants (26%) from the exercise group crossed over to surgery, and 8 (13%) from the surgery group did not undergo surgery.
There was no statistically significant difference in change between groups from baseline to 12 months in KOOS4 scores (19.2 vs. 16.4 in the surgery vs. exercise groups).
There was also no difference in serious adverse events between groups (four vs. seven in the surgery and exercise groups, respectively; P=0.40).

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CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The results of this study suggests that among young, active adults with meniscal tears, a strategy of early meniscal surgery is not superior to a strategy of exercise and education with the option of later surgery.
Both groups experienced clinically relevant improvements in pain, function, and quality of life at 12 months, and one of four from the exercise group eventually had surgery.

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📕 REFERENCE
Skou et la., 2022. Early surgery or exercise and education for meniscal tears in young adults. NEJM Évidence 1(2).

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