Kenneth Pihl

Patient reported outcomes in patients undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for traumatic or degenerative meniscal tears: comparative prospective cohort study

Objectives To compare patient reported outcomes from before surgery to 52 weeks after surgery between individuals undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for traumatic meniscal tears and those for degenerative meniscal tears. Design Comparative prospective cohort study. Setting Four public orthopaedic departments in the Region of Southern Denmark. Participants were recruited between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014, and at one of the original four hospitals from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2015. Participants Individuals selected from Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark, aged 18-55, and undergoing arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for a traumatic or degenerative meniscal tear (defined by a combination of age and symptom onset). Interventions Both participant groups underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for a meniscal tear, with operating surgeons recording relevant information on knee pathology. Patient reported outcomes were recorded via online questionnaires. Main outcome measures Primary outcome was the average between-group difference in change on four of five subscales of the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). The four subscales covered pain, symptoms, sport and recreational function, and quality of life (KOOS4). A 95% confidence interval excluding differences greater than 10 KOOS points between groups was interpreted as absence of a clinically meaningful difference. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. Results 397 eligible adults (42% women) with a traumatic or degenerative meniscal tear (n=141, mean age 38.7 years (standard deviation 10.9); n=256, 46.6 years (6.4); respectively) were included in the main analysis. At 52 weeks after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, 55 (14%) patients were lost to follow-up. Statistically, participants with degenerative meniscal tears had a significantly larger improvement in KOOS4 scores than those with traumatic tears (adjusted between-group difference −5.1 (95% confidence interval −8.9 to −1.3); P=0.008). In the analysis including KOOS4 score at all time points, a significant time-by-group interaction was observed in both the unadjusted (P=0.025) and adjusted analysis (P=0.024), indicating better self-reported outcomes in participants with degenerative tears. However, the difference between groups was at no time point considered clinically meaningful. Conclusions These results question the current tenet that patients with traumatic meniscal tears experience greater improvements in patient reported outcomes after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy than patients with degenerative tears. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01871272.

Signs of knee osteoarthritis common in 620 patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for meniscal tear

Background and purpose — Recent evidence has questioned the effect of arthroscopic knee surgery for middle-aged and older patients with degenerative meniscal tears with or without concomitant radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated the prevalence of early or more established knee OA and patients’ characteristics in a cohort of patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a meniscal tear. Patients and methods — 641 patients assigned for arthroscopy on suspicion of meniscus tear were consecutively recruited from February 2013 through January 2015. Of these, 620 patients (mean age 49 (18–77) years, 57% men) with full datasets available were included in the present study. Prior to surgery, patients completed questionnaires regarding onset of symptoms, duration of symptoms, and mechanical symptoms along with the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS). At arthroscopy, the operating surgeon recorded information about meniscal pathology and cartilage damage. Early or more established knee OA was defined as the combination of self-reported frequent knee pain, cartilage damage, and the presence of degenerative meniscal tissue. Results — 43% of patients (269 of 620) had early or more established knee OA. Of these, a large proportion had severe cartilage lesions with almost half having a severe cartilage lesion in at least 1 knee compartment. Interpretation — Based on a definition including frequent knee pain, cartilage damage, and degenerative meniscal tissue, early or more established knee OA was present in 43% of patients undergoing knee arthroscopy for meniscal tear.

Over-optimistic patient expectations of recovery and leisure activities after arthroscopic meniscus surgery

Background and purpose — Patients’ expectations of outcomes following arthroscopic meniscus surgery are largely unknown. We investigated patients’ expectations concerning recovery and participation in leisure-time activities after arthroscopic meniscus surgery and the postoperative fulfillment of these. Patients and methods — The study sample consisted of 491 consecutively recruited patients (mean age 50 (SD 13) years, 55% men) who were assigned for arthroscopy on suspicion of meniscus injury and later verified by arthroscopy. Before surgery, patients completed questionnaires regarding their expectations of recovery time and postoperative participation in leisure activities. 3 months after surgery, the patients completed questionnaires on their actual level of leisure activity and their degree of satisfaction with their current knee function. We analyzed differences between the expected outcome and the actual outcome, and between fulfilled/exceeded expectations and satisfaction with knee function. Results — 478 patients (97%) completed the follow-up. 91% had expected to be fully recovered within 3 months. We found differences between patients’ preoperative expectations of participation in leisure activities postoperatively and their actual participation in these, with 59% having unfulfilled expectations (p < 0.001). Satisfaction with current knee function was associated with expectations of leisure activities being fulfilled/exceeded. Interpretation — In general, patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscus surgery were too optimistic regarding their recovery time and postoperative participation in leisure activities. This highlights the need for shared decision making which should include giving the patient information on realistic expectations of recovery time and regarding participation in leisure-time activities after meniscal surgery.

Association of specific meniscal pathologies and other structural pathologies with self-reported mechanical symptoms: A cross-sectional study of 566 patients undergoing meniscal surgery

OBJECTIVES We explored associations between specific meniscal pathologies and other concurrent structural knee pathologies with presence of self-reported mechanical symptoms in patients undergoing meniscal surgery. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS We included patients undergoing surgery for a meniscal tear from Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark (KACS). Pre-surgery, patients completed online questionnaires including self-reported presence of mechanical symptoms. At arthroscopy, surgeons recorded information about specific meniscal pathologies and other concurrent structural knee pathologies. Relative risks (RR) were estimated to assess associations between specific meniscal pathologies and other structural knee pathologies with preoperative mechanical symptoms from multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS 566 of 641 patients (mean age 48.6[SD 12.9] years, 57% men) with complete data were included. 386 (68%) patients reported mechanical symptoms of knee catching/locking and/or extension deficit. Most evaluated joint pathologies were not associated with mechanical symptoms of any kind with RRs close to 1.0. Meniscal tears involving both the posterior and anterior horn (n=22) were associated with knee catching/locking (RR: 1.49[95%CI:1.15-1.93]), and a tear in both menisci (n=49) was associated with extension deficit of the knee (RR: 1.32[95%CI:1.01-1.73]). A partial (n=29) and total ACL rupture (n=37) were each associated with extension deficit (RR: 1.83[95%CI:1.47-2.28] and RR: 1.44[95%CI:1.05-1.98], respectively). CONCLUSIONS Limited associations between specific meniscal pathology and other concurrent knee joint pathologies with presence of self-reported mechanical symptoms were found in patients undergoing meniscal surgery. The findings question the clinical importance of mechanical symptoms as an indicator for arthroscopy for specific meniscal tears with the specific aim to relieve such symptoms.

4 Change in patient-reported outcomes in patients with and without mechanical symptoms undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery: a prospective cohort study

Introduction Mechanical symptoms are considered an important indication for meniscal surgery. We investigated if young (≤40 years) and older (>40 years) patients, respectively, with preoperative mechanical symptoms improved more in patient-reported outcomes after meniscal surgery than those without mechanical symptoms. Materials and methods Patients from Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark (KACS) undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery between February 2013 and January 2015 completed online questionnaires pre-surgery, and at 12 and 52 weeks follow-up. Questionnaires included self-reported presence of mechanical symptoms (i.e. sensation of catching and/or locking) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Between-group differences in change in 4 of 5 KOOS subscales (KOOS4) from baseline to 52 weeks were analysed using an adjusted mixed linear model. Results 150 young patients (mean age 31 (SD 7), 67% men) and 491 older patients (mean age 54 (SD 9), 53% men) constituted the baseline cohorts. In general, patients with mechanical symptoms had worse self-reported outcomes before surgery. At 52 weeks follow-up, young patients with preoperative mechanical symptoms had improved more in KOOS4 scores than young patients without preoperative mechanical symptoms (adjusted mean difference 10.5, 95% CI: 4.3 to 16.6), but did not exceed their absolute KOOS4 scores. No essential difference in improvement was observed between older patients with or without mechanical symptoms (adjusted mean difference 0.7, 95% CI: −2.6 to 3.9). Conclusion Young patients (≤40 years) with preoperative mechanical symptoms experienced greater improvements after arthroscopic meniscal surgery compared to young patients without mechanical symptoms. Randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm this potential subgroup benefit.

Conundrum of mechanical knee symptoms: Signifying feature of a meniscal tear?

Background Mechanical knee symptoms are often considered important in the decision to perform knee arthroscopy on the suspicion of a meniscal tear. We investigated if presence of a meniscal tear at knee arthroscopy in adults is associated with presence of preoperative self-reported mechanical knee symptoms. Methods We used data from Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark (KACS). KACS consists of patients aged 18 years or older referred to knee arthroscopy on the suspicion of a meniscal tear at four recruiting hospitals between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2015. Of 1259 invited patients, 908 (72%) replied to the baseline questionnaire. With 91 patients excluded, the study sample consisted of 641 and 176 patients with and without a meniscal tear confirmed at surgery, respectively. Exposure was meniscal tear as determined by the knee surgeon during arthroscopy. Main outcomes were preoperative mechanical knee symptoms defined as self-reported catching/locking or self-reported inability to straighten knee fully. Results 55% of all patients reported symptoms of catching/locking and 47% were unable to straighten their knee fully. Preoperative mechanical symptoms were equally prevalent in patients with and without a meniscal tear (prevalence ratio catching/locking 0.89, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.03, and inability to straighten knee fully, prevalence ratio 1.02, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.23). Interpretation Patient-reported mechanical symptoms were equally common irrespective of presence or absence of a meniscal tear in patients undergoing arthroscopy for suspicion of a meniscal tear. Our findings suggest that mechanical knee symptoms have a limited value when considering indication for meniscal surgery. Trial registration number NCT01871272; Results.

Patient-reported symptoms and changes up to 1 year after meniscal surgery

Background and purpose — Detailed information on the symptoms and limitations that patients with meniscal tears experience is lacking. This study was undertaken to map the most prevalent self-reported symptoms and functional limitations among patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery and investigate which symptoms and limitations had improved most at 1 year after surgery. Patients and methods — Patients aged 18–76 years from the Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark (KACS) undergoing arthroscopic meniscal surgery were included in this analysis of individual subscale items from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and 1 question on knee stability. Severity of each item was scored as none, mild, moderate, severe, or extreme. Improvements were evaluated using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test and effect size (ES). Results — The most common symptoms were knee grinding and clicking, knee pain in general, pain when twisting and bending the knee and climbing stairs (88–98%), while the most common functional limitations were difficulty bending to the floor, squatting, twisting, kneeling, and knee awareness (97–99%). Knee pain in general and knee awareness improved most 1 year after meniscal surgery (ES –0.47 and –0.45; p < 0.001), while knee instability and general knee difficulties improved least (ES 0.10 and –0.08; p < 0.006). Interpretation — Adults undergoing surgery for a meniscal tear commonly report clinical symptoms and functional limitations related to their daily activities. Moderate improvements were observed in some symptoms and functional limitations and small to no improvement in others at 1 year after surgery. These findings can assist the clinical discussion of symptoms, treatments, and patients’ expectations.