Variation in Patient-Reported Outcomes in Young and Old Patients Up to 4 to 6 Years After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy

Abstract

To assess the variation in changes in patient-reported outcomes 4 to 6 years after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Orthopedic departments at public hospitals. Patients: Patients (n 5 447) from the Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark undergoing APM. Interventions: All patients underwent APM. Main Outcome Measures: Change in KOOS 4 scores from baseline before surgery to ;5 years (range 4-6 years) after surgery. KOOS 4 is the average aggregated score of 4 of 5 of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) excluding the activities of daily living subscale (minimal clinical important improvement ;10 points). A mixed linear model adjusted for sex and body mass index was used to assess change from baseline to ;5-year follow-up. Change in KOOS 4 was divided into 5 categories based on change from baseline to ;5-year follow-up: ,0 points, 0 to 9 points, 10 to 19 points, 20 to 29 points, and $30 points. Results: On average, patient-reported outcomes continued to improve from baseline to ;5-year follow-up (mean KOOS 4 change: 26, 95% CI, 24-28). Proportions in the different response groups were ,0 points (12%), 0 to 9 points (13%), 10 to 19 points (16%), 20 to 29 points (19%), and $30 points (40%), with no difference between younger (#40 years, n 5 75) and older (.40 years, n 5 337) patients (P 5 0.898). Conclusions: Patient-reported outcomes on average improved up to ;5 years after APM; however, large variability was observed. The similar variability in younger and older patients questions the assumption that younger patients with traumatic injuries experience larger benefits from APM.