Can Orthopaedic Surgeons Predict the Outcome of Treatment in Patients With Meniscal Tears? The Results of an International Survey.
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Meniscus Lesion
- Sponsor
- Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis
- Enrollment
- 194
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- The ability of orthopaedics surgeons to predict the outcome of treatment
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
In this study the investigators examined the ability of orthopaedic surgeons to predict the outcome of surgery and non-operative treatment in patients (age 45 to 70) with a non-obstructive meniscal tear.
Detailed Description
The additional benefits of Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM) in middle aged patients with a non-obstructive meniscal tear are under scrutiny for years. Despite the most recent publications recommending to apply non-operative treatment (exercise therapy, injections, drugs) instead of APM in this patient group, the expected decrease in number of operations is slower then expected. Orthopaedic surgeons therefore seem unconvinced by the evidence to change practice. For this reason the investigators conducted an international survey amongst orthopaedic surgeons in which the investigators aimed to (1) determine the ability of orthopaedic surgeons to predict the outcomes of APM and physical therapy (PT) in middle aged patients with a non-obstructive meniscal tear, and (2) to determine which patient factors direct surgeons towards APM and towards PT.
Investigators
Victor van de Graaf
principal investigator
Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Patients between 45 and 70 years of age at presentation.
- •A meniscal tear visualized on MRI. The meniscal tear can either be isolated or combined with a partial asymptomatic Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury or an asymptomatic degenerative ACL shown on MRI with no abnormal clinical findings (a negative Lachman test and Pivot Shift).
- •Mental Competence.
- •Willingness to comply with follow up schedule.
- •Written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Knee locking or trauma leading to acute surgery.
- •One of the following associated injuries on the index knee:
- •A symptomatic partial ACL rupture or any total ACL rupture determined by clinical examination (positive Lachman test and/or positive Pivot Shift) and shown on MRI;
- •A complete Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury;
- •Cartilage change down to bone; grade 4 of the Kellgren Lawrence Grading Scale for Osteoarthritis visualized on X-ray;
- •An injury to the lateral/posterolateral ligament complex with significantly increased laxity.
- •A history of knee surgery other than diagnostic arthroscopy on the index knee.
- •Tumors on MRI suspected for a malignancy.
- •Obese patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) \>
- •ASA 4-5 patients which can severely interfere with rehabilitation.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
The ability of orthopaedics surgeons to predict the outcome of treatment
Time Frame: 2 years
In this survey, participants are provided with 20 cases and asked for their treatment of choice (APM or physical therapy). Subsequently, participants are asked for the expected outcome, which is change in knee function on the International Knee Documentation Committee 'Subjective Knee Form' (IKDC). These data are used to assess to what extend orthopaedic surgeons are capable of predicting the outcome of surgical and non-operative treatment of meniscal tears in a random sample of patients from the Escape trial.
Secondary Outcomes
- To assess which patient specific factors are found important by orthopaedic surgeons in choosing their treatment of first choice(2 years)