Do we prefer arthroscopy or placebo?

2002/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, knee arthroscopy and fictitious cutting get the same results.

The research has been conducted between the Baylor School of Medicine and the Department of Major Problems. 180 patients were divided into three groups and were informed of the test to be performed. Patients in a group were given conventional arthroscopy, i.e., the broken, lost, or cracked cartilage was removed from the knee. Those in the second group were also removed from the damaged cartilage, but with another technique. The third group only suffered the simulation of an arthroscopy, and although small openings were made in the knee, no damaged cartilage was removed.

Patients in all three groups saw less pain and better functioning of the knee after cutting. In addition, patients in the two groups who suffered a real cut did not get better results than those who suffered a fictitious cut.

The results of the study suggest that it would be sufficient with a less aggressive fictitious cut against osteoarthritis of the knee, which raises new questions among researchers.