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Does MRI add value in general practice for patients with traumatic knee complaints? A 1-year randomised controlled trial

  • Nynke M. Swart
  • , Kim van Oudenaarde
  • , Sita M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra
  • , Hans J.L. Bloem
  • , Wilbert B. van den Hout
  • , Paul R. Algra
  • , Patrick J.E. Bindels
  • , Bart W. Koes
  • , Rob G.H.H. Nelissen
  • , Jan A.N. Verhaar
  • , Monique Reijnierse
  • , Pim A.J. Luijsterburg

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective To determine whether referral to MRI by the general practitioner (GP) is non-inferior to usual care (no access to MRI by GPs) in patients with traumatic knee complaints regarding knee-related daily function. Methods This was a multicentre, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. GPs invited eligible patients during or after their consultation. Eligible patients (18–45 years) consulted a GP with knee complaints due to a trauma during the previous 6 months. Patients allocated to the MRI group received an MRI at (median) 7 (IQR 1–33) days after the baseline questionnaire. Patients in the usual care group received information on the course of knee complaints, and a referral to a physiotherapist or orthopaedic surgeon when indicated. The primary outcome measure was knee-related daily function measured with the Lysholm scale (0 to 100; 100=excellent function) over 1 year, with a non-inferiority margin of 6 points. results A total of 356 patients were included and randomised to MRI (n=179) or usual care (n=177) from November 2012 to December 2015. MRI was non-inferior to usual care concerning knee-related daily function during 1-year follow-up, for the intention-to-treat (overall adjusted estimate: 0.33; 95% CI −1.73 to 2.39) and per-protocol (overall adjusted estimate: 0.06; 95% CI −2.08 to 2.19) analysis. There were no differences between both groups in the amount of patients visiting other healthcare providers. Conclusion MRI in general practice in patients with traumatic knee complaints was non-inferior to usual care regarding knee-related daily function during 1-year follow-up.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1285-1292
JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume53
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Oct 2019
Externally publishedYes

Funding

We thank all the participating patients and general practitioners. We also thank the radiologists involved in this study: J F H Veldhuizen (MRI Centrum, several locations), Dr P W J Vincken (Alrijne Hospital, Leiderdorp), Dr M J A Smid-Geirnaerdt (Admiraal de Ruyter Hospital, Goes), Dr H J van der Woude (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (OLVG), Amsterdam), Dr C F van Dijke (Northwest Clinics, Alkmaar) and A C van Breda Vriesman (Alrijne Hospital, Leiderdorp). Furthermore, we thank Jan Alberts for his help in the design and management of the secured online environment in which encrypted questionnaires were filled in by patients, MR reports were completed by radiologists and in which the data were stored. We thank Diana van Emmerik, Monique van der Kooij, Mark Broerse, Andrea Hilkens and Céline Hendriks for their help in the data collection and their administrative help. Parts of this article are based on the study protocol, accessible via doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-63. This trial was financially supported by ZonMW, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, project number 171202005. This trial was financially supported by ZonMW, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, project number 171202005.

FundersFunder number
MRI Centrum
J F H Veldhuizen
ZonMw171202005

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