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Comparable results seen with exercise only vs. exercise and arthroscopy in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome
Kettunen JA. Br J Sports Med. 2011; Feb. 25. [Epub ahead of print]. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2010.079020.
This randomized study found similar improvements in pain relief and function at 5 years in patients with chronic patellofemoral pain syndrome who underwent knee arthroscopy and an 8-week at-home exercise program compared with those who only followed the exercise program.
However, the researchers noted that some patients in both groups have “long-term symptoms.”
The researchers studied 28 patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome who followed an at-home exercise program for 8 weeks and a cohort of 28 patients with the same condition who were treated with knee arthroscopy and underwent the exercise program. The groups were evaluated using the Kujala score for pain and function, and the visual analogue scales (VAS) during the 5-year follow-up.
Although both groups showed improved Kujala scores, the researchers found no significant differences between the groups regarding their mean improvement in Kujala and VAS scores.