Spatiotemporal gait assessment as an indicator of patient satisfaction after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures, yet many patients remain dissatisfied in the early postoperative period. Whether dissatisfaction is reflected in changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters remains unclear but such information could help the early identification of patients at risk of poor outcomes. This prospective observational cohort study aimed to assess gait parameters in patients after partial meniscectomy using foot-worn wearable sensors and to evaluate their potential as indicators of postoperative satisfaction.

In this study 27 patients scheduled for partial meniscectomy were prospectively enrolled; the final group comprised 22 patients who completed all assessments. Gait parameters were measured preoperatively and at 1 and 2 months postoperatively. At final follow-up, patients rated their satisfaction. Patients were categorized as satisfied (n = 18) or dissatisfied (n = 4).

Significant improvements in stride length (p < 0.01) and walking speed (p = 0.01) were observed at 2 months postoperatively in the entire group. Among satisfied patients, both stride length and walking speed significantly improved (p < 0.01), whereas in the dissatisfied subgroup cadence and walking speed did not return to baseline values. Patient satisfaction was best predicted by an increase in cadence, with a positive predictive value of 93% (95% confidence interval, CI 72-99%).

Patients who reported satisfaction demonstrated improvements in gait parameters, with cadence emerging as the strongest predictor of postoperative satisfaction.