It is the difference between opinion and fact, between intuition and evidence. While reports in the literature lack vital information, the algorithms and software used to construct KneeProblem are based upon evidence. Elsewhere it may be more. Also, with the traditional evaluation method the patient may have to pay for parking, or take time off from work to see the doctor. Likewise it is cost effective for patients who must justify going out of their health plan for a second opinion or treatment.
Patients rightly wish to know that surgical intervention is indicated.
When medical information is statistically analyzed to determine its predictive value, the critical predictors frequently turn out to be different from the ones surgeons use. Also it has recently been recognized that certain traditional indications exist in people who have never had knee problems. So the issue of surgical indications must be reexamined. An alternative means of determining the presence or absence of surgical indications may be needed. It should be noted that the KneeProblem software is unable to predict the presence of a torn lateral meniscus, rheumatoid synovitis, or tumor.