Optimized Referral of Knee Patients at the Clinic of Sports Injuries

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to evaluate an algorithm to screen patients with a possibility of meniscal injury referred to a sports injury outpatient clinic by using patient-reported symptoms. It will be investigated whether the algorithm is able to identify which patients are deemed relevant to undergo assessment by a physician (i.e. in case the patient need to undergo surgery) and which patients are relevant to undergo assessment by a physiotherapist. This will be evaluated by estimating the sensitivity of the new algorithm compared to actual relevancy based on the traditional clinical assessment of the patients.

Detailed Description
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According to current practice, patients referred to the Clinic of Sports Injuries will be assessed by either a physician or a physiotherapist. Current practice will continue unchanged during this study. Before the scheduled assessment, patients will be asked to fulfill a questionnaire including KOOS, a further description of symptoms, previous treatment by physiotherapist and expected upcoming treatment (i.e. surgery or referral to physiotherapist). An algorithm based on the self-reported information will be used to categorize whether the patient are considered relevant to be referred to assessment by a physician or to assessment by a physiotherapist. After clinical assessment of the patient, the physician or physiotherapist does a registration of diagnosis, choice of treatment and complexity. Based on choice of treatment and complexity, the patient will be categorized as either relevant to be referred to assessment by a physician or to assessment by a physiotherapist. This categorization is by definition considered correct. The ability of the algorithm will be evaluated by comparing it's categorization to the correct result. Sensitivity will be estimated.

Official Title
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Danish Title: Optimeret Visitation af Midaldrende knæpatienter Med Symptomer Muligvis Relateret Til Meniskskade

Conditions
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Knee Injuries, Knee; Injury, Meniscus (Lateral) (Medial)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Assessment at the Clinic of Sports Injuries


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients above the age of 35 referred to the Clinic of Sports Injuries with knee symptoms Exclusion Criteria: Cognitive or language problems that precludes the filling of the questionnaires Previous surgery in the knee Symptoms only located in the anterior part of the knee

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 35 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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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Patients with knee injuries<br>Patients referred to assessment at the Clinic of Sports Injuries | Other: Assessment at the Clinic of Sports Injuries<br>* Assessment at the Clinic of Sports Injuries as well as a new algorithm (using patient-reported symptoms will be applied<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Relevant referral to assessment by physician or Relevant referral to assessment by physiotherapist |  | Up to 4 weeks (at the initial visit at the Clinic of Sports Injuries) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) |  | At baseline |