RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 1 The effect of exercise therapy and surgery on mechanical symptoms in young patients with a meniscal tear
JF BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
JO BMJ OPEN SP EX MED
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A1
OP A1
DO 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-sportskongres2023.1
VO 9
IS Suppl 1
A1 Damsted, Camma
A1 Thorlund, Jonas Bloch
A1 Hölmich, Per
A1 Lind, Martin
A1 Varnum, Claus
A1 Villumsen, Martin Dalgaard
A1 Hansen, Mogens Strange
A1 Skou, Søren T
YR 2023
UL http://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/9/Suppl_1/A1.1.abstract
AB Introduction A common treatment strategy to alleviate mechanical symptoms in young patients with meniscal tears is meniscal surgery, however, it is unknown whether this is superior to a non-surgical strategy. Therefore, we aimed to compare meniscal surgery to early exercise therapy and patient education.Materials and Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 121 patients aged 18–40 years with a MRI-verified meniscal tear were randomized to surgery or 12-weeks supervised exercise and education. For this study 63 patients (33 and 30 patients in surgery and exercise groups, respectively) reporting baseline mechanical symptoms were included. Primary outcome was self-reported mechanical symptoms (yes/no) at 3, 6, and 12 months assessed using a single item from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Secondary outcomes were KOOS4 and the 5 KOOS-subscales and the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET).Results In total, 55/63 patients completed the 12-month follow-up. At 12 months 9/26 (35%) in the surgery group and 20/29 (69%) in the exercise group reported mechanical symptoms. The risk difference and relative risk at any time point was 28.7% (95% CI 8.6 to 48.8) and 1.83 (95% CI, 0.98 to 2.70) of reporting mechanical symptoms in the exercise group compared with the surgery group. No between group differences were found in secondary outcomes.Conclusion Surgery seems to be more effective for relieving self-reported mechanical symptoms, but not for improving pain, function and quality of life in young patients with a meniscal tear and mechanical symptoms compared with a strategy of exercise and education.