Evaluation of MRI Diagnosed Meniscal Lesions

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The knee menisci are two semicircular fibrocartilaginous structures located between the articular cartilage surfaces of the femur and tibia in the medial and lateral joint compartments. The main functions of the menisci are shock absorption and load transmission in the knee, mainly through distribution of mechanical stress over a large area of the joint cartilage. The hypothesis is that primarily older age, meniscal lesion and high pain score at baseline are associated with poorer outcome.

Detailed Description
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Meniscal lesions are the most common source of disability of the knee with a reported incidence rate of up to 18 meniscal lesions per 10.000 subjects per year in Denmark. The meniscus may tear as a result of knee trauma or it may tear spontaneously due to aging and degenerative processes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used in the diagnosis of meniscal lesions with documented high sensitivity and specificity. Meniscal lesion symptoms vary from reduction in knee function with decreased muscle strength and difficulties in performing strenuous activities involving knee flexion and rotation to pain, effusion locking and, giving way.

Official Title
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The Value of MRI in the Evaluation of Knees Suspected for Meniscal Lesions

Conditions
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Meniscus Lesion

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Arthroscopy
* Behavioral: Non-invasive treatment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Clinical suspicion of meniscal lesion according to pain on weight-bearing activities, locking, normal stability, tenderness at medial and/or lateral joint line, normal X-ray Age > 18 years Able to understand Danish Able to sign an informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Age < 18 years Unable to understand Danish Unable to sign an informed consent Unstable knee X-ray or MRI that shows other diagnoses

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Operative treatment<br> | Procedure: Arthroscopy<br>* Arthroscopy is offered for the patients who do not benefit from conservative treatment.<br>* Other names: No other names.;|
| Experimental: Conservative treatment<br> | Behavioral: Non-invasive treatment<br>* All patients will receive information and supervised exercises by a physiotherapist.<br>* Other names: No other names.;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Investigation of improvement in KOOS subscale pain and symptoms | A multiple linear regression model is constructed to investigate which pre-treatment prognostic factors are associated to improvement in KOOS subscale pain and symptoms from baseline to follow-up. | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Meniscal lesions, MRI, arthroscopic treatment