06
April
2018
|
07:00 AM
America/New_York

The most common knee surgery for seniors is costly, and usually a waste

CNBC reported on a recent study that found arthroscopic meniscal surgery to repair torn cartilage is not effective for people older than 65.

HSS sports medicine surgeon David W. Altchek, MD, commented on the study's findings. He pointed out that there are two kinds of meniscus tears, and only the much less common type responds well to surgery.

Dr. Altchek noted that the issue with seniors is that their meniscal injuries are more often the result of wear and tear, and they often or even usually coincide with osteoarthritis.

"That is what reduces the quality of the outcome. It's usually the arthritis causing most of the symptoms," he said.

Read the full article at cnbc.com.

Additional Coverage: