Patients assessment of knee joint effusion following arthroscopy
Author
Salim, Tagrid Jamal
Term
5. Term (Master thesis)
Education
Publication year
2022
Abstract
Background: Knee arthroscopy is a common minimally invasive procedure, yet many patients experience joint effusion and pain afterward. Evidence on how long these symptoms persist is limited. Objective: To assess the duration of patient-reported effusion symptoms over the first 8 weeks after arthroscopy and their association with pain, analgesic use, and return to work. Methods: Prospective questionnaire study of adult patients scheduled for knee arthroscopy at Aalborg University Hospital. Participants completed online surveys before surgery and at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after. Effusion was captured via self-reported symptoms (swelling, tightness, tenderness, instability), pain was assessed as worst pain in the past 24 hours (NRS 0–10), and analgesic use and days to return to work were recorded. Results: Eighty-seven patients were included at baseline; follow-up data were available for 73 (1 week), 68 (2 weeks), 43 (4 weeks), 29 (6 weeks), and 22 (8 weeks). At 1 week, 60/73 reported swelling, 48/73 tightness, 46/73 tenderness, and 20/73 instability; at 8 weeks, 10/22 reported swelling, 6/22 tightness, 10/22 tenderness, and 6/22 instability. The median number of symptoms decreased from 2 (1 week) to 1 (8 weeks). Worst pain fell from a median of 4 to 3, and reported analgesic use declined from 38/73 at 1 week to 5/22 at 8 weeks. Only about one-fifth were symptom-free at both 4 and 8 weeks. Return to work increased over time (e.g., 17/64 at 1 week and 16/19 at 8 weeks). Conclusion: Knee effusion symptoms are common and can persist up to 8 weeks after arthroscopy, but they gradually diminish. Decreases in effusion are associated with lower pain, reduced analgesic use, and earlier return to work.
Baggrund: Knæartroskopi er en hyppig, minimalt invasiv procedure, men mange patienter oplever ansamling (effusion) og smerter efter operationen. Der er begrænset viden om varigheden af disse symptomer. Formål: At undersøge hvor længe patienter rapporterer symptomer på ansamling i de første 8 uger efter artroskopi og sammenhængen med smerte, brug af smertestillende og tilbagevenden til arbejde. Metode: Prospektiv spørgeskemaundersøgelse blandt voksne patienter planlagt til knæartroskopi på Aalborg Universitetshospital. Deltagerne udfyldte online spørgeskema før operation og ved 1, 2, 4, 6 og 8 uger efter. Effusion blev indfanget via selvrapporterede symptomer (hævelse, stramhed, ømhed/spændthed og ustabilitet), smerte blev målt som værste smerte de seneste 24 timer (NRS 0–10), og der blev registreret brug af smertestillende samt dage til genoptaget arbejde. Resultater: 87 patienter blev inkluderet ved baseline; opfølgningsdata var tilgængelige for 73 (1 uge), 68 (2 uger), 43 (4 uger), 29 (6 uger) og 22 (8 uger). Ved 1 uge rapporterede 60/73 hævelse, 48/73 stramhed, 46/73 ømhed/spændthed og 20/73 ustabilitet; ved 8 uger rapporterede 10/22 hævelse, 6/22 stramhed, 10/22 ømhed og 6/22 ustabilitet. Det mediane antal symptomer faldt fra 2 (1 uge) til 1 (8 uger). Værste smerte faldt fra median 4 til 3, og rapporteret brug af smertestillende faldt fra 38/73 ved 1 uge til 5/22 ved 8 uger. Kun omkring en femtedel var symptomfri ved både 4 og 8 uger. Tilbagevenden til arbejde steg over tid (fx 17/64 ved 1 uge og 16/19 ved 8 uger). Konklusion: Symptomer på knæansamling er hyppige og kan persistere op til 8 uger efter artroskopi, men aftager gradvist. Fald i ansamling er associeret med mindre smerte, lavere forbrug af smertestillende og hurtigere tilbagevenden til arbejde.
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