Trial Outcomes & Findings for Comparing Surgery Versus Standard Physical Therapy in Treating People With a Meniscal Tear and Osteoarthritis (NCT NCT00597012)
NCT ID: NCT00597012
Last Updated: 2026-05-18
Results Overview
Scores on the physical-function subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more limitation of physical function. The primary outcome was the difference between the study groups with respect to the change in the score on the physical-function scale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) from baseline to 6 months after randomization.
COMPLETED
NA
351 participants
Baseline and 6 months
2026-05-18
Participant Flow
The Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research (MeTeOR) trial was performed in seven academic referral centers with enrollment occurring from June 2008 through August 2011.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM)
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were offered postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
Physical Therapy (PT)
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
174
|
177
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
161
|
169
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
13
|
8
|
Reasons for withdrawal
| Measure |
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM)
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were offered postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
Physical Therapy (PT)
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
Death
|
1
|
1
|
|
Overall Study
Underwent Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
|
3
|
1
|
|
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
|
7
|
4
|
|
Overall Study
Ineligible
|
2
|
0
|
|
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
|
0
|
2
|
Baseline Characteristics
Comparing Surgery Versus Standard Physical Therapy in Treating People With a Meniscal Tear and Osteoarthritis
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants will undergo arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and offered postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants will undergo standard physical therapy that will include strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Total
n=660 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Customized
|
59.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.9 • n=161 Participants
|
57.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.8 • n=169 Participants
|
58.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.3 • n=330 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
90 Participants
n=161 Participants
|
97 Participants
n=169 Participants
|
187 Participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
71 Participants
n=161 Participants
|
72 Participants
n=169 Participants
|
143 Participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
|
138 participants
n=161 Participants
|
142 participants
n=169 Participants
|
280 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black or African American
|
15 participants
n=161 Participants
|
17 participants
n=169 Participants
|
32 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Hispanic
|
2 participants
n=161 Participants
|
5 participants
n=169 Participants
|
7 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
|
6 participants
n=161 Participants
|
5 participants
n=169 Participants
|
11 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Index Knee
Right
|
70 participants
n=161 Participants
|
68 participants
n=169 Participants
|
138 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Index Knee
Left
|
91 participants
n=161 Participants
|
101 participants
n=169 Participants
|
192 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Mean Body-Mass Index
|
30.0 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 • n=161 Participants
|
30.0 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 • n=169 Participants
|
30.0 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.1 • n=330 Participants
|
|
WOMAC physical-function score
|
37.1 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.9 • n=161 Participants
|
37.5 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 18.3 • n=169 Participants
|
37.3 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 18.1 • n=330 Participants
|
|
KOOS pain score
|
46.0 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.5 • n=161 Participants
|
47.2 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.4 • n=169 Participants
|
46.6 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.0 • n=330 Participants
|
|
Mental Health Index 5 score
|
74.8 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.9 • n=161 Participants
|
74.0 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.9 • n=169 Participants
|
74.4 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.5 • n=330 Participants
|
|
SF-36 Physical Activity score
|
44.3 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 23.7 • n=161 Participants
|
43.3 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 23.3 • n=169 Participants
|
43.8 Units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 23.5 • n=330 Participants
|
|
Kellgren-Lawrence grade
0
|
34 participants
n=161 Participants
|
36 participants
n=169 Participants
|
70 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Kellgren-Lawrence grade
1
|
26 participants
n=161 Participants
|
35 participants
n=169 Participants
|
61 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Kellgren-Lawrence grade
2
|
37 participants
n=161 Participants
|
39 participants
n=169 Participants
|
76 participants
n=330 Participants
|
|
Kellgren-Lawrence grade
3
|
45 participants
n=161 Participants
|
39 participants
n=169 Participants
|
84 participants
n=330 Participants
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline and 6 monthsScores on the physical-function subscale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more limitation of physical function. The primary outcome was the difference between the study groups with respect to the change in the score on the physical-function scale of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) from baseline to 6 months after randomization.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were referred for postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
|---|---|---|
|
WOMAC Functional Status - Difference From Baseline
|
18.5 Score
Interval 15.6 to 21.5
|
20.9 Score
Interval 17.9 to 23.9
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to 6 monthsScores on the pain scale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS) range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more pain. The secondary outcome was the difference between the study groups with respect to the change in the score on the pain scale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS) from baseline to 6 months after randomization.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were referred for postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
|---|---|---|
|
KOOS Pain - Difference From Baseline
|
21.3 Score
Interval 18.4 to 24.2
|
24.2 Score
Interval 21.3 to 27.1
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: 6 monthsScores on the physical-activity scale of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater physical activity.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were referred for postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
|---|---|---|
|
SF-36 Physical Functional Status Scale - Difference From Baseline
|
23.1 Score
Interval 19.2 to 27.0
|
24.2 Score
Interval 20.3 to 28.0
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: Baseline to 60 monthsNumber of subjects that elected to undergo Total Knee Replacement or Total Knee Arthroplasty between baseline and 60 month follow up. Intended to show the total number of participants that underwent Total Knee Replacement in the period following the initial intervention through 60 month follow up.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were referred for postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Total Knee Replacement - Subjects Received
|
9 Participants
|
16 Participants
|
SECONDARY outcome
Timeframe: 60 monthsScores on the pain scale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS) range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more pain. The secondary outcome was the mean KOOS pain for each of the study groups 60 months after randomization.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Physical Therapy
n=169 Participants
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=161 Participants
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were referred for postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
|---|---|---|
|
KOOS Pain - Mean at 60 Months
|
19.4 score on a scale
Interval 16.7 to 22.1
|
18.2 score on a scale
Interval 15.4 to 20.9
|
Adverse Events
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
Physical Therapy
Serious adverse events
| Measure |
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=174 participants at risk
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were offered postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
Physical Therapy
n=177 participants at risk
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Cardiac disorders
Cardiovascular
|
1.1%
2/174 • Number of events 2 • 60 months
|
1.1%
2/177 • Number of events 2 • 60 months
|
|
Vascular disorders
Hypoxemia
|
0.57%
1/174 • Number of events 1 • 60 months
|
0.00%
0/177 • 60 months
|
Other adverse events
| Measure |
Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy
n=174 participants at risk
Participants underwent arthroscopic partial menisectomy (APM) surgery and were offered postoperative rehabilitative physical therapy.
|
Physical Therapy
n=177 participants at risk
Participants underwent standard physical therapy that included strengthening and stretching sessions one to three times a week for 8 weeks.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Muskuloskeletal
|
4.0%
7/174 • Number of events 7 • 60 months
|
3.4%
6/177 • Number of events 6 • 60 months
|
|
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pain in the back, hip, or foot
|
1.1%
2/174 • Number of events 2 • 60 months
|
2.3%
4/177 • Number of events 4 • 60 months
|
|
Cardiac disorders
Cardiovascular
|
3.4%
6/174 • Number of events 6 • 60 months
|
1.7%
3/177 • Number of events 3 • 60 months
|
Additional Information
Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, MSc
The Brigham and Women's Hospital
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place