#Cartilage: TikTok Videos on Cartilage Surgery Demonstrate Low Quality and Limited Educational Value

PurposeTo evaluate the quality, reliability, and educational value of TikTok videos on cartilage surgery. It was hypothesized that overall quality would be low but higher in videos by healthcare professionals (HCP) and those with educational content.MethodsTikTok was searched (September 22-25, 2025) using terms related to cartilage surgery and repair. Of 800 retrieved videos, 108 met inclusion criteria. Video metrics, uploader type, and content type were recorded. Quality and reliability were assessed using the DISCERN instrument, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). Associations between video metrics and quality scores were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation, and Mann-Whitney U tests compared scores by uploader and content type.ResultsMost videos were posted by private users (61.1%) and focused on patient experiences (58.3%). Duration, shares, and views correlated positively with all quality metrics (P < 0.001). HCP videos achieved significantly higher DISCERN (47.5 vs. 26.0), JAMA (2.9 vs. 0.9), and GQS (3.2 vs. 1.8) scores but lower engagement (all P < 0.001). Educational videos outperformed patient experience videos across all quality metrics (all P < 0.01).ConclusionTikTok videos on cartilage surgery demonstrated low overall quality and reliability. Greater professional engagement is needed to enhance the accuracy and credibility of cartilage-related information on social media.