New study demonstrates reduced opioid use after knee surgery with mini-scope technique

Results from the multicenter, randomized trial also showed that the smaller-scope approach required less surgical fluid and led to lower pain scores shortly after surgery. Although both groups recovered similarly after six weeks, patients treated with the minimally invasive technique benefited from less discomfort and a quicker early return to activity.

“This study reinforces that smaller, less invasive approaches can make a meaningful difference in how patients experience recovery,” said Chad D. Lavender, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at Marshall Health Network, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and lead author on the study. “By reducing post-operative pain and the need for opioid medications, we can help patients return to their normal lives faster while supporting broader efforts to combat opioid dependency.” 

Reference:

Chad D. Lavender, Ethan Hahn, Tyler H. Hwang, Andrew L. Schaver, Eliana S. LeMaster, James Nottingham, Timothy E. Hewett, Evan H. Argintar, Opioid Use Following Partial Meniscectomy with Needle Arthroscopy Compared to Standard Knee Arthroscopy: Results from a Randomized Multicenter Trial, Journal of Orthopaedics, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2025.11.012.