Partial meniscectomy is a surgery that removes a small part of a torn knee meniscus. Doctors have done it for many years, but new research says it may not help patients.
What the Ten‑Year Study Found
Researchers followed people for ten years after they either had the real surgery or a fake (sham) operation. The group that got the real cut did not feel better than the fake‑surgery group. In fact, they often felt more pain.
After ten years, the real‑surgery patients had more knee symptoms, worse movement, and faster growth of osteoarthritis. They also needed another knee operation more often.
How the Study Was Done
The Finnish Degenerative Meniscal Lesion Study (FIDELITY) compared two groups: one got the meniscus cut, the other got a sham procedure. The participants were chosen at random, and doctors tracked them for a decade.
Why Doctors Thought the Surgery Worked
For a long time, doctors believed that pain on the inner side of the knee came from a torn meniscus and that cutting it would relieve the pain. New thinking says the pain may be caused more by overall joint wear as we age.
Risks and Long‑Term Harm
Earlier studies already warned that meniscectomy might increase the chance of needing a knee replacement later. This new study confirms those worries with stronger evidence.
Why the Surgery Is Still Common
Even though many health groups have suggested stopping the operation, big orthopedic societies still recommend it. Changing long‑standing medical habits can be slow.
Teamwork Made the Study Possible
The research involved five hospitals in Finland. Out of 146 people who started, more than 90 % stayed in the study until the final check‑in.
This teamwork shows how patients and doctors can work together to find out which treatments really help.