Outcome of knee injuries in general practice: 1-year follow-up

Knee injuries may lead to pain and to functional limitations in the activities of daily living. Patients with knee injuries are frequently seen in general practice; however, the outcome and management in these patients is not known.

To assess the outcome and management of knee injuries at 12 months' follow-up in general practice.

A prospective observational cohort study with a 1-year follow-up.

Primary health care.

Adult patients consulting their GP after knee injury (n = 134) participated in the cohort. A magnetic resonance imaging scan was carried out and patients were diagnosed as either no lesion or an isolated meniscal tear, an isolated collateral or cruciate ligament lesion, or a combination. Follow-up questionnaires were filled in up to 12 months' follow-up.

At 12 months' follow-up, 34 patients reported full recovery and 67 patients reported major improvement. At baseline, 37 patients (28%) were referred to physical therapy and 17 patients (13%) were referred to secondary care. During 1 year of follow-up, another 21 referrals to physical therapy and 11 referrals to secondary care took place. The pain severity decreased the most, and the Lysholm knee score increased in the majority of patients during the first 3 months after injury. In total, 18 arthroscopies were performed in 15 patients. One patient underwent an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The vast majority of patients report clinically relevant recovery. There is no clear difference in outcomes between patients with meniscal tears or ligament lesions and patients without these diagnoses.