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Study on Operative vs. Non-Operative Treatment for Meniscus Root Tears

This study is comparing two ways to treat a specific type of knee injury called a posterior-medial meniscal root tear. One group will receive non-operative treatment, which includes pain medication (analgesics), physical therapy, and not putting weight on the leg for 6 weeks. The other group will have surgery to repair the meniscus root. The main goal is to see if there are differences in pain, how well people can use their knee, and what imaging (like MRI) shows after treatment. Researchers also want to learn more about how these tears heal and what might lead to problems like arthritis later on. You can join if you are 18 or older and have an MRI-confirmed isolated medial meniscus root tear. The study is currently enrolling participants.

Study design
This is a randomized study with two groups, aiming to enroll 140 participants. You would be randomly assigned to either the non-operative or operative treatment group.
What's involved
You would receive either pain medication and physical therapy for 8-12 weeks, or surgery within 3 weeks of joining. Both groups will be non-weight bearing for 6 weeks and have follow-up appointments with imaging.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your pain levels will be measured for up to 12 months after surgery, or 18 months if you switch from non-operative to operative treatment. Imaging will be done at 12 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05985772

Operative vs Non-operative Management of Posterior-medial Meniscal Root Tears: A Randomized Multicenter Trial (RCT)

Recruiting
NAAges 18+Interventional
Rush University Medical Center
~140 participants
Updated 2026-08-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Non-Operative Pain ManagementOperative treatment arm will undergo transtibial medial meniscus root repair within 3 weeks of enrollment

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain
Measured over Enrollment up to 12 months postoperatively (18 months if crossover at 3 months from ARM 1 to ARM 2)

Conditions

Meniscus Tear, Tibial

Explore related trials

Finding of tear meniscus

NCT05985772

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Rush University Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jorge Chahla, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rush University Medical Center Associate Professor and Surgeon

Who to contact

Carla M. Edwards, PhD
[email protected]
312-563-5735
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

MRI-verified isolated tibial medial meniscus root tear
Subject must be 18 years of age or older

Exclusion

Concurrent ligamentous knee pathology requiring surgical intervention (i.e. anterior cruciate ligament tear, posterior cruciate ligament tear, posterolateral corner injury, high-grade medial collateral ligament tear),
Preoperative Kellgren-Lawrence grade of 3 or 4
Inability to complete outcome questionnaires or comply with required postoperative imaging or MRI requirements, or medical contraindications to surgery or physical therapy.
Pregnancy
Subjects \< 18 years of age

What this trial measures

  • Visual analogue scale (VAS) for painEnrollment up to 12 months postoperatively (18 months if crossover at 3 months from ARM 1 to ARM 2)

    The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be'). Ask the patient to rate their current level of pain by placing a mark on the line.