Revive’s Mission to “Stop the Scope”
As patients, it’s crucial to be informed about the treatments recommended in the healthcare industry, especially when it comes to procedures like joint “scoping” (arthroscopy). While these techniques have been promoted as quick fixes for knee, shoulder, and other joint issues, large-scale research studies suggest otherwise.
Having personally observed several of these procedures, I can describe what you’ll see in the operating room: Imagine the game Hungry, Hungry Hippos inside a joint, aggressively chomping up frayed tissue. The result? A joint that may appear “cleaned up,” like a decluttered room. But is removing valuable bits of meniscus, ligament, bursa, and cartilage actually doing more harm than good?
Initially, arthroscopy was seen as a revolutionary solution, promising quick recovery times and improved joint function. However, long-term studies tracking tens of thousands of patients suggest the effectiveness of these procedures is questionable.
The Research: Surgery vs. Physical Therapy
Degenerative Meniscus Tears:
Dr. Julia Noorduyn and her team of orthopedic surgeons performed 321 arthroscopic meniscectomies (removing frayed meniscus tissue) from 2020 to 2022 on patients with degenerative knee meniscus tears. They compared these surgical patients—who also went through extensive post-op physical therapy—to another group that completed eight weeks of physical therapy alone. After tracking both groups over the next few years, the results were striking: both groups had similar outcomes, but the physical therapy group had much fewer complications. The surgical group had complications including infection, blood clots, repeat surgeries, increased opioid prescriptions, and increased healthcare costs. Their conclusion?
“Physical therapy should therefore be the preferred treatment over surgery for degenerative meniscal tears.”
Traumatic Meniscus Tears:
In 2024, Dr. Camma Damstead and her team conducted a similar study—this time focusing on patients with traumatic meniscus tears. At both the three-month and twelve-month marks, results between the PT and surgical groups were nearly identical. Their conclusion?
“In patients with traumatic or nontraumatic meniscus tears, early meniscal surgery did not appear superior to exercise and education in improving pain, function, and quality of life after 12 months.”
Shoulder Scopes:
The evidence doesn’t stop at the knee. Dr. Mathias Back and his team studied outcomes for over 300 patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy, subacromial decompression, or physical therapy alone. Their findings? Minimal differences in pain, function, and return-to-work rates. However, the surgical groups had higher rates of complications, repeat surgeries, infection, opioid prescriptions, and healthcare costs.
In fact, in 2023, an orthopedic research team at the University of Sydney identified the three surgeries most likely to be doing more harm than good:
1. Spinal Fusion
2. Knee Arthroscopy
3. Shoulder Arthroscopy
Say it louder for the people in the back: “Stop the scope!”
What This Means for You
In short, patients who choose the non-surgical route do just as well—if not better—than those who opt for surgery, while avoiding unnecessary risks, costs, and complications.
At Revive Spine and Sport, we pride ourselves on preventing dozens of unnecessary surgeries each year. Through thorough physical exams and guided movement therapy, we’ve helped countless patients avoid the OR. Many cases that are told they “need surgery” can be resolved with specific, repeated movements performed throughout the day.
If you—or someone you know—has been told you need a scope, we encourage you to experience the Revive difference. Let’s work together to keep you strong, mobile, and out of the OR.
Thanks for reading!
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