ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01571102Updated Dec 29, 2022

Impact of Physiotherapy on Short-term Outcome After Meniscectomy

An interventional study of Therapy and Exercise therapy in Meniscectomy, sponsored by University Hospital, Ghent. Completed at 1 site in Belgium. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-12-29.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Ghent · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
180
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In this study we investigate whether physiotherapy offers added value in rehabilitation after meniscectomy compared with no therapy or a home program. The population consists of 180 post-operative meniscus injury patients, operated at UZ Gent, the first 60 patients received no therapy, the next 60 patients were offered a treatment by their home physiotherapist according to our established protocol and the last 60 patients we have prepared a home program .

The physiotherapeutic treatment has been prepared based on scientific literature and own experience from the program at Ghent University and internships. It includes exercises to promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient. This schedule will be given to the patient along with the questionnaires at registration of the operation and will serve as a guideline for the physiotherapist for the rehabilitation of the patient after surgery. Monitoring of the evolution will take place by calling the physiotherapist on regular basis.

The home program is prepared on the basis of commonly used home exercises after arthroscopy and also includes exercises to promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling. The difference with the physiotherapeutic treatment is that there is no control and supervision of a physiotherapist and that the treatment is more limited. This program is given with the patient along with the questionnaires at registration of the operation.

Pre-operatively and 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post-operatively, an evaluation of the current condition of the patient will happen on the basis of standardized questionnaires. Based on the results of these questionnaires, collected at different times, we can determine which treatment provides the best rehabilitation after meniscectomy. The first (preoperative) questionnaire, given at registration of the operation, is completed and given to the nurse of the day hospital on the day of surgery, the other (postoperative) questionnaires are sent electronically to the patient's email address and need to be returned, after filling up.

This study spends specific attention to the speed of resumption of work / sports and daily activities and the presence or absence of complaints.

02

Conditions studied

  • Meniscectomy
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Ghent is the lead sponsor of 685 studies on the registry; 158 are open to participants now.

Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (80%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Post-operative meniscectomy and surgery at Ghent University Hospital

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
180 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    physiotherapy

    Promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient.

    Behavioral: Therapy

  • No intervention
    Rest
  • Active comparator
    Home exercises

    Promote mobility, strength and stability and exercises to reduce pain and swelling depending on the phase of tissue repair and evolution of the patient.

    Behavioral: Exercise therapy

Interventions

  • BehavioralTherapy

    week 1 - 4: 3 times/week, week 5 - 8: 2 times/week, duration 40min.

  • BehavioralExercise therapy

    week 1 - 4: 3 times/week, week 5 - 8: 2 times/week, duration 30 min.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  2. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  3. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  4. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  5. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  6. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 4 weeks post-operative

  7. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  8. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  9. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  10. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  11. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  12. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 3 months post-operative

  13. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  14. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  15. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  16. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  17. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  18. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 6 months post-operative

  19. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  20. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  21. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  22. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  23. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  24. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire.

    Time frame: After 1 year post-operative

  25. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the VAS (Visual analogue scales) questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

  26. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

  27. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey 36) questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

  28. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the Tegner questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

  29. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from the FORSS (Factor Occupational Rating System Scale)questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

  30. Speed of resumption of work/ sports and daily activities.

    This outcome will be derived from a physiotherapeutic questionnaire.

    Time frame: Pre-operative

Secondary outcomes

  1. The presence of a total number of complaints.

    This outcome will be derived from questionnaires: VAS, KOOS, SF-36, TEGNER, FORSS, physiotherapeutic questionnaire

    Time frame: pre-operative and 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-operative.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Ghent University Hospital
    Ghent, 9000, Belgium
08

References and documents

Related links

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 29, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01571102
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 4, 2012
Start date
Feb 2013
Primary completion
Jun 2015
Completion
Jun 2015
Last update
Dec 29, 2022

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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