Degenerative meniscal tear is a chronic disorder with knee swelling, pain, and loss of motion. Currently, it is uncertain whether arthroscopic partial meniscectomy combined with medical exercise therapy is better than isolated medical exercise therapy for a degenerative meniscal tear. The study assessing the combination of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with medical exercise revealed that in the early postoperative period, the arthroscopic partial meniscectomy combined with medical exercise therapy is effective in minimizing pain and enhancing range of motion. It does not elevate the risk of postoperative complications. Therefore, this therapy may be recommended for the management of degenerative meniscal tear.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of isolated medical exercise therapy alone with a combination of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and medical exercise therapy in treating degenerative meniscal tear.

Using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library Databases, electronic searches were performed for all randomized studies. The literature screening, data extraction, and risk evaluation of bias were also done by two reviewers. VAS (visual analogue scale), WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), range of motion, the LKSS (Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale), KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and postoperative complications were the outcome measures. For the meta-analysis, STATA 13.0 software was applied.

Patients treated with exercise therapy following arthroscopic surgery were associated with improved VAS scores, WOMAC, and range of motion when compared to patients treated with exercise therapy alone. However, no substantial differences were witnessed in terms of LKSS, KOOS, or postoperative complications.

In patients with a degenerative meniscal tear, exercise therapy following arthroscopic surgery is safe and effective.