Time to Achieving Clinically Significant Outcomes After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation

PURPOSE: To determine the time to achieving minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) for commonly administered patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and risk factors affecting achievement of clinically significant outcomes in patients undergoing meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). METHODS: A prospectively maintained MAT registry was retrospectively reviewed from April 2014 to May 2019. Patients who underwent revision MAT or did not complete preoperative PROs or one post operative time point were excluded. Patients who underwent concomitant procedures were included in the analysis. PROs were administered preoperatively and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Previously defined MCID and PASS thresholds were utilized and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis with interval censoring was used to calculate the cumulative percentages of MCID and PASS achievement at each follow-up time interval (5-7, 11-13, and 23-25 months). RESULTS: Eighty patients (age: 28.35 ± 9.76, 50% male) who completed preoperative, 6-month (n = 69, 86% compliance), and 1-year (n = 76, 95% compliance) PROs were included. The majority of patients (>50%) achieved MCID and PASS on most included PROs. Workers’ compensation status was found to significantly delay achievement of MCID and PASS on all PROs except for PASS on Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) quality of life (QoL). Higher body mass index (BMI) significantly delayed time to achieving MCID on KOOS Pain and activities of daily living (ADL), as well as PASS on KOOS Symptoms and KOOS QoL. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the majority of patients have clinically significant improvements in pain and function after MAT, with more than 50% of patients experiencing clinically significant improvement within the first postoperative year. Workers’ compensation status and high BMI may prolong time to achievement of MCID and PASS after MAT.