Long-Term Study Finds Partial Meniscectomy Offers No Benefit and May Harm Patients

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:16:00 +0200

A 10-year clinical trial led by the University of Helsinki has challenged the effectiveness of partial meniscectomy, a widely performed knee surgery intended to relieve pain from meniscus tears. The Finnish Degenerative Meniscal Lesion Study (FIDELITY) compared patients receiving the actual surgery with those undergoing a sham procedure. The results revealed that surgery did not improve pain or knee function compared to placebo. In fact, over a decade, patients who had the operation experienced more symptoms, reduced mobility, faster progression of osteoarthritis, and were more likely to need further surgery. The study highlights a medical reversal, showing that a commonly accepted treatment may be ineffective or even harmful. The research emphasizes that knee pain is often related to joint degeneration due to aging rather than meniscus tears alone. Despite prior evidence and guideline recommendations against the procedure, partial meniscectomy remains common in some countries. The stu