OBJECTIVE: Data from long-term follow-up of several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) versus non-operative therapy or sham have suggested that APM may be associated with increased risk of worsening in radiographic features of osteoarthritis (OA). Our objective was to estimate the risk of MRI-based OA structural changes using baseline, 18-month, and 60-month MRI data from an RCT of APM versus physical therapy in participants with meniscal tear and OA. METHODS: We used data from the MeTeOR (Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research) Trial. MRIs were read using the MRI OA Knee Score (MOAKS). We used linear mixed effects models to examine the association between treatment group and continuous MOAKS summary scores, and Poisson regression to assess categorical change in joint structure. Analyses assessed change from baseline to 18 months and 18-to-60 months. We performed both intention-to-treat and as-treated analyses. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 302 participants. For both treatment groups, more change was seen over the earlier (baseline minus 18 months) interval than the later interval. APM was associated with increased risk of any worsening in cartilage surface area damage score (relative risk 1.35, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.61), osteophytes, and effusion-synovitis over the earlier time period. Only change in osteophytes was significantly different between treatment groups in the later time period. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the association between APM and MRI-based changes is most apparent in the 18 months after surgery. The reason for the attenuation of this association over longer follow-up merits further investigation.
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