A Pilot Single-blind Parallel Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Mobile App (UPSCALER) to Standard Care in the Rehabilitation of ACL Injury After Reconstructive Surgery

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Research Title An Android Application-Based Delivery of Guided Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomised Single-Blinded Pilot Study

Investigators Principle Investigator (Supervisor) : Prof Madya Dr Mohd Nizlan Mohd Nasir Co-investigator (Supervisor) : Dr Khairil Anwar bin Ahmad Hanif Dr Firdati binti Mohamed Saaid Co-Investigator (Student) : Dr Tan Eng Kee

Background Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are a common and significant injury seen in active persons. This injury can adversely affect the patient's daily life, as well as delay or prevent return to sports, in addition to predisposing patients to long-tern knee conditions such as osteoarthritis. Despite surgical advances, ACL reconstruction surgery outcomes are still considered poor, with a low as 55% of patients returning to active sports. One of the key factors that lead to a poorer outcome is the patient's compliance to rehabilitation, causing less than satisfactory results in the post-operative period. With the conventional regime, rehabilitation typically takes one year. Patients tend to drop out of the rehabilitation regime due to its long duration. In order to combat this, the accelerated regime was developed and only took 6 months. This regime has been researched and validated by numerous international publications since its inception. However, compliance remained poor.

Purpose of Study The study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a smartphone-based application to guide the patient's rehabilitation regime and improve compliance.

Data Gathering and Analysis Data for outcome assessment will be obtained via a patient administered questionnaire called the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). This scoring system is available for free without licensing requirements, and has been validated by numerous research publications internationally.

Analysis of obtained data will be performed using SPSS version 22. Continuous data will be displayed as mean + SD as well as median.

Conclusion There is a need for a new method of information provision as the country moves towards the age of information technology. This smartphone-based application for guided rehabilitation will be an innovative new method to aid patients.

Lastly, the researchers would like to thank the members of JKEUPM for their time, effort and kind consideration of this research proposal.