title: Six-year course and prognosis of traumatic knee symptoms in general practice: Cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic knee symptoms are frequently seen, however, evidence about the course and prognostic factors are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the one and six-year course of traumatic knee symptoms presenting in general practice, and to identify prognostic factors for persistent knee symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents (≥12 years) and adults with traumatic knee symptoms (n = 328) from general practice were followed for six years with self-report questionnaires and physical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persistent knee symptoms were reported by 27% of the patients at one year and by 33% at six years. There was a strong relationship (OR: 11.0, 95% CI: 5.0-24.2) between having persistent knee symptoms at one year and at six-year follow-up. Prognostic factors associated with persistent knee symptoms at one year were age, poor general health, history of non-traumatic knee symptoms, absence floating patella and laxity on the anterior drawer test (AUC: 0.72). At six-year follow-up, age, body mass index > 27, non-skeletal co-morbidity, self-reported crepitus of the knee, history of non-traumatic knee symptoms, and laxity on the anterior drawer test were associated with persistent knee symptoms (AUC: 0.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traumatic knee symptoms in general practice seem to become a chronic disorder in one out of three patients. Several prognostic factors assessed at baseline were associated with persistent knee symptoms at one and six-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Marlous
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kastelein
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Pim A J
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Luijsterburg
authors.affiliation: b Department of Orthopaedics , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan A N
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Verhaar
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands ;
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Koes
authors.affiliation: a Department of General Practice , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands ;|b Department of Orthopaedics , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sita M A
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bierma-Zeinstra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Traumatic knee symptoms; cohort study; general practice; prognosis