Eric C Makhni1, Maximilian A Meyer2, Bryan M Saltzman2, Brian J Cole2. 1. Department of Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.. Electronic address: ericmakhnimd@gmail.com. 2. Department of Sports Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the comprehensiveness of outcome reporting after treatment of focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. METHODS: A systematic review of literature published over the past 5 years (October 2010 to October 2015) in 5 high-impact orthopaedic journals was completed to identify all recent clinical studies tracking outcomes after surgery for focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. A metric reporting score was calculated for each study, according to reporting of 6 cardinal domains: pain, satisfaction, osteoarthritis progression, subjective knee function, objective knee function, and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 122 studies included for review, 117 (96%) tracked patient-reported outcomes during follow-up. Nearly two-thirds of studies (63%) monitored progression of osteoarthritis at follow-up. Fewer than half of studies (39%) specifically monitored pain outcomes in patients. One-third of studies (30%) tracked patient satisfaction. Only 21% of studies monitored subjective knee function using proxies such as return to play, and only 17% of studies reported on objective knee function during return visits to the clinic. The average metric reporting score of all studies was 2.6, and nearly half of studies (48%) reported on only 1 or 2 domains of interest. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variability in outcome reporting after cartilage surgery in high-impact orthopaedic journals. Furthermore, most studies do not comprehensively track outcomes across domains. Both factors hinder comparison of results across studies. Future outcome metrics should focus on patient-centered factors to improve both accuracy of results reporting and standardization across studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level I-IV studies.
PURPOSE: To assess the comprehensiveness of outcome reporting after treatment of focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. METHODS: A systematic review of literature published over the past 5 years (October 2010 to October 2015) in 5 high-impact orthopaedic journals was completed to identify all recent clinical studies tracking outcomes after surgery for focal articular cartilage defects in the knee. A metric reporting score was calculated for each study, according to reporting of 6 cardinal domains: pain, satisfaction, osteoarthritis progression, subjective knee function, objective knee function, and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 122 studies included for review, 117 (96%) tracked patient-reported outcomes during follow-up. Nearly two-thirds of studies (63%) monitored progression of osteoarthritis at follow-up. Fewer than half of studies (39%) specifically monitored pain outcomes in patients. One-third of studies (30%) tracked patient satisfaction. Only 21% of studies monitored subjective knee function using proxies such as return to play, and only 17% of studies reported on objective knee function during return visits to the clinic. The average metric reporting score of all studies was 2.6, and nearly half of studies (48%) reported on only 1 or 2 domains of interest. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variability in outcome reporting after cartilage surgery in high-impact orthopaedic journals. Furthermore, most studies do not comprehensively track outcomes across domains. Both factors hinder comparison of results across studies. Future outcome metrics should focus on patient-centered factors to improve both accuracy of results reporting and standardization across studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level I-IV studies.
Authors: Yining Lu; Alexander Beletsky; Benedict U Nwachukwu; Bhavik H Patel; Kelechi R Okoroha; Nikhil Verma; Brian Cole; Brian Forsythe Journal: Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil Date: 2020-10-24
Authors: Sravya P Vajapey; Jesse Morris; Andrew I Spitzer; Andrew H Glassman; Nicholas J Greco; Mengnai Li Journal: J Clin Orthop Trauma Date: 2020-05-20
Authors: Caleb M Gulledge; D Grace Smith; Alexander Ziedas; Stephanie J Muh; Vasilios Moutzouros; Eric C Makhni Journal: JB JS Open Access Date: 2019-12-05