If you have suffered an injury or battled bone or joint pain for a while, you might want to think twice before choosing to undergo surgery. According to a study just published in the BMJ, researchers at the University of Bristol in England reviewed ten of the most common elective orthopedic surgical procedures and compared data on the effectiveness of those surgeries compared to no treatment, placebo, or non-operative care, like physical therapy. The current scientific research supported only carpal tunnel decompression and total knee replacement over non-operative care. There was insufficient data to compare hip replacement versus non-surgical treatment. But for other common surgeries, including rotator cuff repair, meniscectomy, ACL reconstruction, and lumbar spine decompression, while they may be effective for some patients, there was no strong evidence proving they are more effective than non-surgical alternatives.
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