Chronic Meniscus InjuryNCT01288768
Is a Knee Arthroscopy of Any Benefit for the Middleaged Patient With Meniscal Symptoms?
A study testing Knee arthroscopy in people with Chronic Meniscus Injury, run by University Hospital, Linkoeping at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a knee arthroscopy is effective in the treatment of middleaged patients with meniscal symptoms also receiving a standardised exercise program. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 45 to 64 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Meniscus Injury
- What is being tested?
- Knee arthroscopy
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- Mar 2010to May 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 45 to 64 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- All (consecutive) patients referred to the orthopaedic department in Linköping for a suspected meniscal injury
- Age:45-64 years old
- No gonarthrosis (Ahlbäck=0) on standing radiographs
Who cannot join
- Rheumatic disease
- Patellofemoral arthrosis
- Fibromyalgia
- A knee or hip replacement
- A neurologic disorder including stroke
- A contraindication for an operation
Show all 9Show fewer
- Catching or locking for more than 2 seconds more than once a week
- A permanent extension deficit
- Patients who cannot understand instructions in Swedish
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a knee arthroscopy is effective in the treatment of middleaged patients with meniscal symptoms also receiving a standardised exercise program.
Read the detailed description
There are no studies proving a significant positive effect of a knee arthroscopy in middleaged patients with meniscal symptoms in excess of a structured rehabilitation program. In this study consecutive patients aged 45-64 years referred to the orthopaedic department at the University hospital Linköping for a suspected meniscal injury will be randomised to a rehabilitation program or a knee arthroscopy + the same rehabilitation program. Functional tests will be performed by a physiotherapist. There will be patient administrated questionaries sent out after 3 and 12 month.
- Conditions
- Chronic Meniscus Injury
- Being tested
- Knee arthroscopy
- Keywords
- Meniscal injury, Knee arthroscopy, Middleaged, Functional outcome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Knee arthroscopyProcedure or surgery
Knee arthroscopy within 4 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arthroscopy | Active comparator | Knee arthroscopy + Exercise therapy Receives: Procedure: Knee arthroscopy |
| Exercise therapy | No intervention | Exercise therapy alone |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score); Pain subscale
KOOS is a 42 item selfadministrated questionnaire with 5 separate subscales; pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), sport and recreation, quality of life (QoL). A change of approximately 10 is considered a clinical important difference (CID). At 12 month after the randomization the "arthroscopy+exercise therapy" arm will be compared to the "exercise therapy alone" arm.
Measured: 12 month
Secondary outcomes (4)
KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)
Measured: 3 month
Tegner activity scale
Measured: 12 month
KOOS (Symptoms, ADL, Sport/rec, QOL subscores)
Measured: 12 month
Functional tests
Squatting (possible without pain, possible with pain, not possible). SOLEC ( one-legged stance) barefoot. Best time for three trials. Standing up from a chair on one leg, maximum repetitions in 30 sec. All test supervised by a physiotherapist.
Measured: 3 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Feb 2011 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2010
- Primary completionMay 2013
- Study completionMay 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (17)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Chronic Meniscus InjuryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Linkoeping
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hakan Gauffin, University Hospital, Linkoeping
- Investigators
- Håkan Gauffin, MD PhD, Principal investigator, Orthopaedic dept. University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01288768
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2010/6-31
- Status last verified
- May 2013
- First submitted
- 26 Jan 2011
- Last updated
- 3 May 2013
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Englund M, Roos EM, Roos HP, Lohmander LS. Patient-relevant outcomes fourteen years after meniscectomy: influence of type of meniscal tear and size of resection. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001 Jun;40(6):631-9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/40.6.631.
PubMed 11426019Englund M, Guermazi A, Gale D, Hunter DJ, Aliabadi P, Clancy M, Felson DT. Incidental meniscal findings on knee MRI in middle-aged and elderly persons. N Engl J Med. 2008 Sep 11;359(11):1108-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0800777.
PubMed 18784100Ericsson YB, Dahlberg LE, Roos EM. Effects of functional exercise training on performance and muscle strength after meniscectomy: a randomized trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009 Apr;19(2):156-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00794.x. Epub 2008 Apr 6.
PubMed 18397193Herrlin S, Hallander M, Wange P, Weidenhielm L, Werner S. Arthroscopic or conservative treatment of degenerative medial meniscal tears: a prospective randomised trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Apr;15(4):393-401. doi: 10.1007/s00167-006-0243-2. Epub 2007 Jan 10.
PubMed 17216272Larsson AC, Petersson I, Ekdahl C. Functional capacity and early radiographic osteoarthritis in middle-aged people with chronic knee pain. Physiother Res Int. 1998;3(3):153-63. doi: 10.1002/pri.137.
PubMed 9782518Paradowski PT, Englund M, Roos EM, Lohmander LS. Similar group mean scores, but large individual variations, in patient-relevant outcomes over 2 years in meniscectomized subjects with and without radiographic knee osteoarthritis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004 Jul 27;2:38. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-2-38.
PubMed 15279676Roos EM, Roos HP, Ekdahl C, Lohmander LS. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)--validation of a Swedish version. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1998 Dec;8(6):439-48. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.1998.tb00465.x.
PubMed 9863983Roos EM, Roos HP, Ryd L, Lohmander LS. Substantial disability 3 months after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: A prospective study of patient-relevant outcomes. Arthroscopy. 2000 Sep;16(6):619-26. doi: 10.1053/jars.2000.4818.
PubMed 10976123Roos EM, Lohmander LS. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS): from joint injury to osteoarthritis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2003 Nov 3;1:64. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-1-64.
PubMed 14613558Roos EM, Bremander AB, Englund M, Lohmander LS. Change in self-reported outcomes and objective physical function over 7 years in middle-aged subjects with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Apr;67(4):505-10. doi: 10.1136/ard.2007.074088. Epub 2007 Aug 17.
PubMed 17704069Tegner Y, Lysholm J. Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985 Sep;(198):43-9.
PubMed 4028566Wood L, Peat G, Thomas E, Hay EM, Sim J. Associations between physical examination and self-reported physical function in older community-dwelling adults with knee pain. Phys Ther. 2008 Jan;88(1):33-42. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060372. Epub 2007 Nov 20.
PubMed 18029391Sonesson S, Kuster RP, Gauffin H, Kvist J. Long-term physical activity in middle-aged patients with meniscal symptoms: a 10-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial comparing exercise therapy alone to knee arthroscopic surgery plus exercise therapy. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Sep 23;26(1):854. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-09151-4.
PubMed 40988010Sonesson S, Springer I, Yakob J, Hedevik H, Gauffin H, Kvist J. Knee Arthroscopic Surgery in Middle-Aged Patients With Meniscal Symptoms: A 10-Year Follow-up of a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2024 Jul;52(9):2250-2259. doi: 10.1177/03635465241255653.
PubMed 39101738Sonesson S, Kvist J, Yakob J, Hedevik H, Gauffin H. Knee Arthroscopic Surgery in Middle-Aged Patients With Meniscal Symptoms: A 5-Year Follow-up of a Prospective, Randomized Study. Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Jan 27;8(1):2325967119893920. doi: 10.1177/2325967119893920. eCollection 2020 Jan.
PubMed 32047825
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 May 2013. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Is a Knee Arthroscopy of Any Benefit for the Middleaged Patient With Meniscal Symptoms?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01288768
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2010/6-31
- Conditions
- Chronic Meniscus Injury
- Keywords
- Meniscal injury, Knee arthroscopy, Middleaged, Functional outcome
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, LinkoepingUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Mar 2010
- Primary completion
- May 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Feb 2011 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether a knee arthroscopy is effective in the treatment of middleaged patients with meniscal symptoms also receiving a standardised exercise program.
Detailed description
There are no studies proving a significant positive effect of a knee arthroscopy in middleaged patients with meniscal symptoms in excess of a structured rehabilitation program. In this study consecutive patients aged 45-64 years referred to the orthopaedic department at the University hospital Linköping for a suspected meniscal injury will be randomised to a rehabilitation program or a knee arthroscopy + the same rehabilitation program. Functional tests will be performed by a physiotherapist. There will be patient administrated questionaries sent out after 3 and 12 month.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arthroscopy | Active comparator | Procedure: Knee arthroscopyKnee arthroscopy + Exercise therapy |
| Exercise therapy | No intervention | –Exercise therapy alone |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 45 to 64 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- All (consecutive) patients referred to the orthopaedic department in Linköping for a suspected meniscal injury
- Age:45-64 years old
- No gonarthrosis (Ahlbäck=0) on standing radiographs
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Rheumatic disease
- Patellofemoral arthrosis
- Fibromyalgia
- A knee or hip replacement
- A neurologic disorder including stroke
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Knee arthroscopyKnee arthroscopy within 4 weeks. | Procedure or surgery | Arthroscopy |
Primary outcome
KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score); Pain subscale
Time frame: 12 month
KOOS is a 42 item selfadministrated questionnaire with 5 separate subscales; pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), sport and recreation, quality of life (QoL). A change of approximately 10 is considered a clinical important difference (CID). At 12 month after the randomization the "arthroscopy+exercise therapy" arm will be compared to the "exercise therapy alone" arm.
4 secondary outcomes
KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)
Time frame: 3 month
Tegner activity scale
Time frame: 12 month
KOOS (Symptoms, ADL, Sport/rec, QOL subscores)
Time frame: 12 month
Functional tests
Time frame: 3 month
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 May 2013.
- Background: PubMed 11426019Englund M, Roos EM, Roos HP, Lohmander LS. Patient-relevant outcomes fourteen years after meniscectomy: influence of type of meniscal tear and size of resection. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2001 Jun;40(6):631-9. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/40.6.631.
- Background: PubMed 18784100Englund M, Guermazi A, Gale D, Hunter DJ, Aliabadi P, Clancy M, Felson DT. Incidental meniscal findings on knee MRI in middle-aged and elderly persons. N Engl J Med. 2008 Sep 11;359(11):1108-15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0800777.
- Background: PubMed 18397193Ericsson YB, Dahlberg LE, Roos EM. Effects of functional exercise training on performance and muscle strength after meniscectomy: a randomized trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009 Apr;19(2):156-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00794.x. Epub 2008 Apr 6.
- Background: PubMed 17216272Herrlin S, Hallander M, Wange P, Weidenhielm L, Werner S. Arthroscopic or conservative treatment of degenerative medial meniscal tears: a prospective randomised trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Apr;15(4):393-401. doi: 10.1007/s00167-006-0243-2. Epub 2007 Jan 10.
- Background: PubMed 9782518Larsson AC, Petersson I, Ekdahl C. Functional capacity and early radiographic osteoarthritis in middle-aged people with chronic knee pain. Physiother Res Int. 1998;3(3):153-63. doi: 10.1002/pri.137.
- Background: PubMed 15279676Paradowski PT, Englund M, Roos EM, Lohmander LS. Similar group mean scores, but large individual variations, in patient-relevant outcomes over 2 years in meniscectomized subjects with and without radiographic knee osteoarthritis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2004 Jul 27;2:38. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-2-38.
- Background: PubMed 9863983Roos EM, Roos HP, Ekdahl C, Lohmander LS. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)--validation of a Swedish version. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1998 Dec;8(6):439-48. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.1998.tb00465.x.
- Background: PubMed 10976123Roos EM, Roos HP, Ryd L, Lohmander LS. Substantial disability 3 months after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: A prospective study of patient-relevant outcomes. Arthroscopy. 2000 Sep;16(6):619-26. doi: 10.1053/jars.2000.4818.
- Background: PubMed 14613558Roos EM, Lohmander LS. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS): from joint injury to osteoarthritis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2003 Nov 3;1:64. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-1-64.
- Background: PubMed 17704069Roos EM, Bremander AB, Englund M, Lohmander LS. Change in self-reported outcomes and objective physical function over 7 years in middle-aged subjects with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Apr;67(4):505-10. doi: 10.1136/ard.2007.074088. Epub 2007 Aug 17.
- Background: PubMed 4028566Tegner Y, Lysholm J. Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985 Sep;(198):43-9.
- Background: PubMed 18029391Wood L, Peat G, Thomas E, Hay EM, Sim J. Associations between physical examination and self-reported physical function in older community-dwelling adults with knee pain. Phys Ther. 2008 Jan;88(1):33-42. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20060372. Epub 2007 Nov 20.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Håkan Gauffin, MD PhD principal investigator
Orthopaedic dept. University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Knee arthroscopy in people with Chronic Meniscus Injury, run by University Hospital, Linkoeping at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 May 2013. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score); Pain subscale (time frame: 12 month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01288768, which also lists 17 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 May 2013.