title: Certified Athletic Trainers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Knee Injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a specific phenotype of osteoarthritis (OA) that commonly develops after acute knee injury, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or meniscal injury (or both). Athletic trainers (ATs) are well positioned to educate patients and begin PTOA management during rehabilitation of the acute injury, yet it remains unknown if ATs currently prioritize long-term outcomes in patients with knee injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate ATs' knowledge and perceptions of OA and its treatment after ACL injury, ACL reconstruction, or meniscal injury or surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was administered to 2000 randomly sampled certified ATs. We assessed participants' perceptions of knee OA, the risk of PTOA after ACL or meniscal injury or surgery, and therapeutic management of knee OA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 437 ATs who responded (21.9%), the majority (84.7%) correctly identified the definition of OA, and 60.3% indicated that they were aware of PTOA. A high percentage of ATs selected full meniscectomy (98.9%), meniscal tear (95.4%), ACL injury (90.2%), and partial meniscectomy (90.1%) as injuries that would increase the risk of developing OA. Athletic trainers rated undertaking strategies to prevent OA development in patients after ACL injury or reconstruction (73.8%) or meniscal injury or surgery (74.7%) as extremely or somewhat important. Explaining the risk of OA to patients with an ACL or meniscal injury was considered appropriate by 98.8% and 96.8% of respondents, respectively; yet a lower percentage reported that they actually explained these risks to patients after an ACL (70.8%) or meniscal injury (80.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although 84.7% of ATs correctly identified the definition of OA, a lower percentage (60.3%) indicated awareness of PTOA. These results may reflect the need to guide ATs on how to educate patients regarding the long-term risks of ACL and meniscal injuries and how to implement strategies that may prevent PTOA.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pietrosimone
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: J Troy
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Yvonne M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Golightly
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Harkey
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Brittney A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Luc
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: DeFreese
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Darin A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Padua
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bennell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology*; D010465:Perception; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; meniscectomy; meniscus