Finnish Degenerative Meniscal Lesion Study

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is one of the most common orthopedic procedures, yet rigorous evidence of its efficacy is lacking.

 

We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial in 146 patients 35 to 65 years of age who had knee symptoms consistent with a degenerative medial meniscus tear and no knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly assigned to arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or sham surgery.

In the intention-to-treat analysis, there were no significant between-group differences in the change from baseline to 12 months in any primary outcome.

In this trial involving patients without knee osteoarthritis but with symptoms of a degenerative medial meniscus tear, the outcomes after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were no better than those after a sham surgical procedure.

PUBLICATIONS:

See publications list from Publications page.

FIDELITY Study Group

FIDELITY-karttaPP

Steering group:

Teppo Järvinen, Helsinki
Raine Sihvonen, Tampere
Mika Paavola, Helsinki
Antti Malmivaara, Helsinki

Study coordination:

Pirjo Toivonen, Tampere

Chairs, Clinical sites:

Juha Kalske, Espoo
Ari Itälä, Turku
Antti Joukainen, Kuopio
Heikki Nurmi, Jyväskylä
Raine Sihvonen, Tampere

Investigators:

Anna Ikonen, Helsinki
Ari Itälä, Turku
Antti Joukainen, Kuopio
Timo Järvelä, Tampere
Tero Järvinen, Tampere
Juha Kalske, Helsinki
Kari Kanto, Tampere
Janne Karhunen, Helsinki
Jani Knifsund, Turku
Heikki Kröger, Kuopio
Tommi Kääriäinen, Kuopio
Janne Lehtinen, Tampere
Vesa Lepola, Espoo
Antti Malmivaara, Helsinki
Heikki Nurmi, Jyväskylä
Jukka Nyrhinen, Jyväskylä
Mika Paavola, Helsinki
Juha Paloneva, Jyväskylä
Outi Päiväniemi, Tampere
Marko Raivio, Tampere
Janne Sahlman, Kuopio
Roope Sarvilinna, Helsinki
Sikri Tukiainen, Espoo
VIlle-Valtteri Välimäki, Helsinki
Ville Äärimää, Turku

Research nurses:

Saara-Maija Hinkkanen, Jyväskylä
Elina Jalava, Kuopio
Sari Karesvuori, Espoo
Kirsi Lehtonen, Turku
*Pekka Karppi, Turku
Marketta Rautanen, Tampere
*Marja-Liisa Sutinen, Kuopio
Pirjo Toivonen, Tampere
*Johanna Koivistoinen, Helsinki
* Not active

Collaboration:

Martin Englund, Lund University
Aleksandra Turkiewich, Lund University
Harri Sintonen, University of Helsinki