title: The METEOR trial: no rush to repair a torn meniscus.
abstract: It is uncertain whether arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is better than physical therapy in patients who have a symptomatic torn meniscus on top of osteoarthritis of the knee. The Meniscal Repair in Osteoarthritis Research (METEOR) trial concluded that physical therapy is acceptable at first, and that surgery is not routinely needed. In patients assigned to physical therapy who eventually needed surgery, the delay resulting from a trial of conservative management did not impair outcomes at 12 months from the initial presentation. Here, we analyze the background, design, findings, and clinical implications of the METEOR trial.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Yong Gil
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: C Kent
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kwoh
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries