Impact of Physiotherapy on Short-term Outcome After Meniscectomy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In this study we investigate whether physiotherapy offers added value in rehabilitation after meniscectomy compared with no therapy or a home program. The population consists of 180 post-operative meniscus injury patients, operated at UZ Gent, the first 60 patients received no therapy, the next 60 patients were offered a treatment by their home physiotherapist according to our established protocol and the last 60 patients we have prepared a home program . The physiotherapeutic treatment has been prepared based on scientific literature and own experience from the program at Ghent University and internships. It includes exercises to promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient. This schedule will be given to the patient along with the questionnaires at registration of the operation and will serve as a guideline for the physiotherapist for the rehabilitation of the patient after surgery. Monitoring of the evolution will take place by calling the physiotherapist on regular basis. The home program is prepared on the basis of commonly used home exercises after arthroscopy and also includes exercises to promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling. The difference with the physiotherapeutic treatment is that there is no control and supervision of a physiotherapist and that the treatment is more limited. This program is given with the patient along with the questionnaires at registration of the operation. Pre-operatively and 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-operatively, an evaluation of the current condition of the patient will happen on the basis of standardized questionnaires. Based on the results of these questionnaires, collected at different times, we can determine which treatment provides the best rehabilitation after meniscectomy. The first (preoperative) questionnaire, given at registration of the operation, is completed and given to the nurse of the day hospital on the day of surgery, the other (postoperative) questionnaires are sent electronically to the patient's email address and need to be returned, after filling up. This study spends specific attention to the speed of resumption of work / sports and daily activities and the presence or absence of complaints.

Official Title
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Study of Impact of Physiotherapy on Short-term Outcome After Meniscectomy.

Conditions
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Meniscectomy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Therapy
* Behavioral: Exercise therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Post-operative meniscectomy and surgery at Ghent University Hospital Exclusion Criteria:

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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: physiotherapy<br>Promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient. | Behavioral: Therapy<br>* week 1 - 4: 3 times/week, week 5 - 8: 2 times/week, duration 40min.<br>|
| No Intervention: Rest<br> | |
| Active Comparator: Home exercises<br>Promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient. | Behavioral: Exercise therapy<br>* week 1 - 4: 3 times/week, week 5 - 8: 2 times/week, duration 30 min.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire. | After 4 weeks post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire. | After 3 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire. | After 6 months post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire. | After 1 year post-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 
| Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities. | This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire. | Pre-operative | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The presence of a total number of complaints. | This outcome will be derived from questionnaires: VAS, KOOS, SF-36, TEGNER, FORSS, physiotherapeutic questionnaire | pre-operative and 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operative. |