A new computer-based triage tool for patients with knee disorders

The Birmingham Knee Interview (BKI) is a computer-based questionnaire that has been developed to triage patients with knee disorders in the 16-50 years age group. The BKI was developed as a triage tool by analysing the interview responses of 150 patients against their final diagnosis. The latter was determined by the findings at arthroscopy, clinical examination or special investigations (e.g. MRI). Based on the final diagnosis patients were divided into two groups. Group I contained those patients with pathologies that need assessment by a surgeon, while group II are those who do not. Twenty-five different questions showed statistical significance (P<0.05) in identifying a patient falling into one group or another. The weight of evidence of each chosen answer from these questions was calculated. The computer was then programmed to automatically sum these weights with a decision based on the score. A trial on a further 82 patients showed a correct decision of the computer software in 71 patients. In conclusion, the BKI provides an automated method for triaging patients with knee disorders that is 86.7% (S.E. 3.7%) accurate.