On July 3, 2017, the New York Times reported on a recent study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) in May 2017 that analyzed 12 trials and 13 observational studies. The study "concluded that arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears resulted in no lasting pain relief or improved function." The meniscus is a cartilege like disc that acts as a shock absorber between the bones of the knee joint. Knee pain can also be caused by osteoarthritis which cannot be cured by arthroscopic or open meniscal surgery.
According to the study reported in BMJ, these arthroscopic procedures cost $3 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Obviously, it is big business and orthopedists frequently recommend these procedures for chronic knee pain. Indeed, patient's agree to accept the risks of these procedures in the hope to avoid or delay a total knee replacement. But, since there is no evidence to prove the procedure's efficacy--- isn't this unnecessary surgery? For more information on this subject click the link below.