Only 48% Were Able to Return to Their Normal Activities, Several years After Arthroscopic Surgery

A long-term study to determine the outcomes of patients who underwent arthroscopic  partial  lateral meniscectomy (partial removal of the lateral meniscus) for lateral meniscus tears was conducted in otherwise normal knees.  The study reviewed patient’s activity level, clinical, and x-ray results.

Patient’s who underwent the surgery were followed up with a minimum of 5-8 years later.  They were evaluated by questionnaire, x-rays, and knee examinations.  Initially, only 85% of those who underwent surgery were able to temporarily return to pre-injury activity level.  However, this percentage dropped to 48% at the time of follow-up.     The study concluded that the activity level of patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for partial lateral meniscus removal is likely to deteriorate with time.  The study also concluded that patients should be counseled concerning long-term expectations regarding their knee pain.

If you’re still suffering from knee pain after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program may be the answer to your problem.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is considered a complete treatment plan that combines low-level laser treatments (cold laser treatments), non-weight bearing exercises, and other modalities that promote rehabilitation of the knee.  Every patient’s program is different depending on whether they suffer from arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, meniscus tears, bursitis, tendonitis, Baker’s Cyst, post surgical arthroscopic knee pain, or a combination of the listed conditions.  If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!

At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we also have programs available that can help most musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc and nerve problems, hip, ankle, foot, hand and wrist pain, etc…

Dr. Robert Hanson, an associate at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, offers a very successful non-surgical program that treats herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves with Cold Laser/Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional of the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”

Jaureguito JW. Elliot JS. Lietner T. Dixon LB. Reider B. Arthroscopy. The effects of arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy in an otherwise normal knee: a retrospective review of functional, clinical, and radiographic results. 11(1):29-36, 1995 Feb.

Facts about Menisci and Meniscus Tears

• Each knee has two tough, rubbery menisci. 
• The menisci are located between the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone).
• One meniscus sits on the inside of the knee joint and is referred to as the medial meniscus.  The other meniscus rests on the outer part and is referred to as the lateral meniscus. 
• The medial meniscus is “C” shaped and the lateral meniscus is “O” shaped.  
• The menisci act as shock absorbers and help equally distribute body weight across the knee joint. 
• Without menisci the knee joint would wear down unevenly. 
• Meniscal tears are one of the most common knee injuries.

• Normal knees have 20% better shock-absorbing capacity then those without meniscus.
• Surgical procedures of the meniscus are performed on an estimated 850,000 patients each year.
• Meniscal injuries may be the most common knee injury. The prevalence of acute meniscal tears is 61 cases per 100,000 persons.
• The overall male-to-female incidence is approximately 2.5:1.  Males between the ages of 31-40 years, and  females between the ages of  11-20 years have a higher prevalence of meniscal tears.
• In patients older than 65 years, the rate of degenerative meniscal tears is 60%. In older patients the meniscus will typically become drier and more brittle therefore it can tear more easily.
• Menisci are able to distribute the load and forces over a much larger surface area which decreases contact pressure by increasing contact area.
• Menisci transmit up to 70% of the joint load.  Partial menisectomy may increase peak loads up to 65%.  A total menisectomy may increase peak loads up to 235%.
• Menisci also protect the underlying articular cartilage. Removing 15-34% of a meniscus may increase contact pressure on the articular cartilage by more than 350%. (This is an important fact if you are considering arthroscopic  Surgery for a Meniscal Tear).

Located in Irving, Texas, the DFW Spine & Joint Center includes a team of professionals that are dedicated to improving your quality of life.   Professional and amateur athletes, dancers, musicians, retirees and people who are just suffering with pain go to the DFW Spine & Joint Center for care. Using the facility to improve their condition, thousands of successful cases have been treated since 2001.

Dr. Alexandra Schnee primarily treats patients suffering with knee pain due to arthroscopic knee surgery, arthritis, bursitis, ‘bone on bone’, tendonitis, meniscus/cartilage tears, and Baker’s Cyst’s.

At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we have programs available that can help most musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc and nerve problems, hip, ankle, foot, hand and wrist pain, etc…

Dr. Robert Hanson, an associate at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, offers a very successful nonsurgical program that treats herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves with Cold Laser/Spinal Decompression Therapy.

If you live in the Dallas/ Fort-Worth Metroplex and suffer with knee pain, and would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program or any of our other programs please call our office at 214-596-1051, or fill out the form on the right hand side of this page and a FREE 16 page report about the treatments will be mailed to you within 72 hours.

Article by Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional of the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”

Source Information:  Wheeless Textbook of Orthopedics online at Wheelessonline.com

Should Knee Surgery Be Performed to Fix Degenerative Medial Meniscus Tears?

No, not according to Georgetown University Department of Orthopedics Study!

Rimington T, Mallik K, Evans D, Mroczek K, Reider B. Orthopedics. A prospective study of the nonoperative treatment of degenerative meniscus tears.  2009 Aug;32(8).
Study Conducted at Georgetown University Department of Orthopedics, 3800 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC 20007, USA.:

The study was designed to determine if patients clinically diagnosed with degenerative medical meniscus tears would significantly improve if they did not  elect to do surgery and chose nonoperative-based treatment protocols. Twenty-six patients were followed for 37 months and evaluated clinically, radiographically, and with standardized, validated Modified Lysholm Knee Scoring System (MLKS) and Standardized Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Knee (SADL) questionnaires. Forty-six percent of patients (12 of 26) declined operative treatment.

AFTER  A  3  YEAR FOLLOW UP 100% OF THE PATIENTS THAT RECEIVED NONOPERATIVE TREATMENT  IMPROVED TO A FUNCTIONAL LEVEL THAT ALLOWED THEM TO AVOID SURGERY. THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND AN INITIAL COURSE OF NONOPERATIVE TREATMENT FOR ALL PATIENTS WITH A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DEGENERATIVE MEDIAL MENISCUS TEARS PRIOR TO CONSIDERING SURGERY.

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is a conservative, non surgical, safe, effective treatment program  that  may help you avoid knee surgery.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is considered a complete treatment plan that combines cold laser treatments, non-weight bearing exercises, and other modalities that promote rehabilitation of the knee.

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and suffer with arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, meniscus tears, bursitis, tendonitis, Baker’s Cyst, post surgical arthroscopic knee pain, or a combination of the listed conditions  call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!

At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we also have programs available that can help most musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc and nerve problems, hip, ankle, foot, hand and wrist pain, etc… Dr. Robert Hanson, an associate at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, offers a very successful non-surgical program that treats herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves with Cold Laser/Spinal Decompression Therapy.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional of the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”

Knee Pain From a Meniscus Tear, Arthritis, And a Baker’s Cyst

Marlin K., 76, Retired, Little Elm, TX

On a scale of 1-10 the pain often reached a debilitating 9 or 10 with regularity. I seldom could go an hour without some level of pain. The right side of my left knee was extremely painful when the fabric of my pants touched the skin. I had to wear a knee wrap often to diffuse this. Excruciating pain occurred after riding in or driving a car for more then 10-15 minutes. (My knee) never failed to act up, no matter the seat adjustment. At home I could not sit for a long time without pain occurring. After a while I had to get up and walk the pain off. I tried different types of pain relievers and a cortisone shot. It was only effective for 2-3 weeks then started to wear off.

Now that I’ve completed Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program I can now drive or ride in a car for at least an hour with no debilitating pain. I can now sit for a long time without pain occurring. I am very well pleased with the results. I would rate my improvement at least 70-75% better then when I started. It was well worth the effort and price.

Mr. K gave Dr. Alexandra Schnee permission to use his unsolicited testimonial for marketing purposes.

If you have knee pain after sitting for awhile or if you have knee pain from arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, a meniscus tear, Baker’s Cyst, tendonitis, bursitis, a knee injury, or arthroscopic knee surgery, and live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program combines non-weight bearing exercises (so that you don’t do more damage to the knee joint), multiple cold lasers, and other therapies so can enjoy life again without your knee pain stopping you!

Or if you would like more information about my Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you today!

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional of the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”