Why the study?
The study aimed to compare knee-related quality of life between youth with and without an intra-articular, sport-related knee injury over 12 months, and assess associations with clinical outcomes.
Does a sport-related knee injury reduce knee-related quality of life in youth compared to uninjured peers over 12 months?
Does a sport-related knee injury reduce knee-related quality of life in youth compared to uninjured peers over 12 months?
Youth with sport-related knee injuries experience significant and persistent deficits in knee-related quality of life up to 12 months post-injury compared to uninjured peers.
Impaired knee QOL persists after youth sport injury; leaves open whether clinical factors predict recovery or warrant targeted intervention.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare knee-related quality of life (QOL) between youth with and without an intra-articular, sport-related knee injury at baseline (≤4 months postinjury), 6-month, and 12-month follow-up, and assess the association between clinical outcomes and knee-related QOL. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: We recruited 86 injured and 64 uninjured youth (similar age, sex, sport). Knee-related QOL was assessed with the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) QOL subscale. Linear mixed models (95% confidence interval [CI]; clustered on sex and sport) compared KOOS QOL between study groups over the study period, considering sex-based differences. We also explored the association of injury type (anterior cruciate ligament [ACL]/meniscus injury or other), knee extensor strength (dynamometry), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (accelerometer), intermittent knee pain (Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain [ICOAP] measure), and fear of reinjury (17-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia) with knee-related QOL. RESULTS: Participant median (range) age was 16.4 (10.9-20.1) years, 67% were female, and 56% of injuries were ACL ruptures. Injured participants had lower mean KOOS QOL scores at baseline (−61.05; 95% CI: −67.56, −54.53), 6-month (−41.37; 95% CI: −47.94, −34.80), and 12-month (−33.34; 95% CI: −39.86, −26.82) follow-up, regardless of sex. Knee extensor strength (6- and 12-month follow-up), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (12-month follow-up), and ICOAP (all time points) were associated with KOOS QOL in injured youth. Additionally, having an ACL/meniscus injury and higher Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia scores were associated with worse KOOS QOL in injured youth. CONCLUSION: Youth with a sport-related knee injury have significant, persistent knee-related QOL deficits at 12-month follow-up. Knee extensor strength, physical activity, pain, and fear of reinjury may contribute to knee-related QOL. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2023;53(8):480-489. Epub: 20 June 2023. doi:10.2519/jospt.2023.11611
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Le et al. (2023) studied this question.
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