TUESDAY, March 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Knee replacement surgery isn't always a game changer, according to a new study that raises questions about the increasingly common procedure.

The patients who benefit most have severe osteoarthritis. But for people with milder symptoms, the expense might not be justified, researchers determined.

"This study suggests we should reconsider doing this procedure on people who have more mild pain, and less severe knee arthritis and loss of function," said Daniel Riddle. He's a professor of physical therapy and orthopaedic surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Some in the medical community wonder if the procedure is overused, said Riddle, who wasn't involved in the study.