Randomized Controlled Trials for Arthroscopy in Degenerative Knee Disease: Was Conservative Therapy Appropriately Tried Prior to Arthroscopy?

Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in this secondary analysis of subgroup differences between studies which required mandatory physiotherapy prior to arthroscopy and study which did not require physiotherapy prior to arthroscopy for degenerative knee pathology. Subgroup differences were noted in analyses of effects on short-term pain reduction, short-term functional improvement, and long-term functional improvement, all of which were greater among studies with mandatory physiotherapy versus studies without mandatory physiotherapy.