Arthroscopic knee surgery, one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, is no better that other alternative treatments to relieve pain caused by arthritis.

The study published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine involved 178 patients with moderate to severe arthritis of the knee. Half of them had arthroscopic surgery and the rest got only physical activity and took medications to relieve the pain.

At the end of the study at the University of Western Ontario, researchers concluded that those who underwent the surgery fared no better over two years than those who had physical activity and took medication. In 2002, another study found that operations were no better than a sham procedure for arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis; it commonly affects the hips, feet, spine, and the large weight bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. As OA progresses, the affected joints appear larger, are stiff and painful, and usually feel worse, the more they are used throughout the day. As the bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, the patient experiences pain upon weight bearing, including walking and standing.

Arthroscopic surgery allows quicker healing compared to traditional surgery, but it has unwanted side effects, including blood clots, infection and nerve damage. The incidence of adverse side effects associated with surgery, or with medications has created a great interest in the search for more effective and save alternative treatments.

A study led by an Indian scientist found that a herbal extract of an Indian Frankincense Salai, commonly found in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, can effectively reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. The herb has been used for thousands of years in the Indian system of traditional medicine, but the research study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy was the first to prove that an enriched extract of the plant can be used as a successful treatment to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.