Arthroscopic surgery is commonly used to repair the meniscus (cartilage) in the knee. Some recent studies have shown that this may not be the best procedure for people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Research appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine (2008 Sept 11;359[11]:1097-107) looked at subjects with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee and compared surgery to more conservative therapy. One group of 86 subjects received surgery, along with physical therapy and medical therapy. The 86 subjects in the control group received physical therapy and medical therapy without surgery. When both groups were assessed two years later, there was no difference in the severity of symptoms or quality of life. The group not receiving arthroscopic surgery fared just as well as the surgical group. Earlier research appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine (2002 Jul 11;347[2]:81-8) showed a similar result.