Developing an Acute Knee Injury Assessment Tool (CamKIAT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and Validation of the Cambridge Knee Injury Assessment Tool (CAM KIAT): A Pilot Study of a Novel Clinical Prediction Tool
IRAS ID
327031
Contact name
Thomas Molloy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Acute knee injuries are a common presentation in emergency departments and primary care, with knee pain accounting for one-third of musculoskeletal complaints. Accurate assessment and appropriate treatment require recording large amounts of patient information, performing a physical examination, and taking images and scans. However, diagnosing knee injuries in acute settings can be difficult due to pain and swelling. Furthermore, there is a reported lack of confidence in assessing patients among healthcare providers. As a result, misdiagnosis of soft tissue knee injuries is common, where evidence suggests that only 10-15% of patients with initial diagnoses of certain knee injuries are correct. As a result, many healthcare systems rely on unnecessary imaging tests. This then delays the commencement of appropriate rehabilitation or surgical management. As soft tissue knee injuries are associated with a significant personal and economic burden, the need to improve the diagnoses of knee injuries in acute settings is clear.
This study aims to explore whether we can predict important knee injuries without the healthcare team doing a physical examination or taking images of the knee. To do this, we will look at different things like information about the patient (e.g. age and sex), external factors (e.g. activity, weather), and important signs (e.g. swelling, pain) that could help us make the prediction. The study will record this specific information and produce a risk score. The goal is to see if we can tell if someone has a serious knee injury by assessing their risk factors and without having to physically examine or image their knee.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
23/NI/0136
Date of REC Opinion
17 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion