James Lind Alliance First-Time Soft-Tissue Knee Injuries Priority-Setting Partnership: Top Ten

Abstract

IntroductionThe knee is the most commonly injured joint in sporting accidents. They cause substantial disability, time off work and long-term problems. There remains a limited number of high-quality randomised controlled trials assessing first time, acute soft tissue knee injuries. Key areas requiring answers include prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and delivery of care. In association with the James Lind Alliance, this BASK, BOSTAA and BOA supported prioritising exercise was undertaken over a year.MethodologyThe James Lind Alliance methodology was followed. An initial survey invited patients and healthcare professionals to submit their uncertainties regarding soft tissue knee injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and delivery of care. Over 1000 questions were submitted. Seventy-four questions were formulated to encompass common concerns. These were checked against best available evidence. Following the interim survey, 27 questions were taken forward to the final workshop in January 2023, where they were discussed, ranked and scored in multiple rounds of prioritisation by groups of healthcare professionals, patients and carers.ResultsThe Top 10 includes prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation questions, reflecting the concerns of patients, carers and a wider multidisciplinary team. These will be presented and explained.ConclusionThis validated process has generated an important Top 10, which has been submitted to the National Institute for Health and Care Research. All 27 questions will be published, thus being available for researchers to investigate. The questions in the Top 10 will lead to future high quality research, thus improving patient outcomes.