CompletedNot Applicable

Sampling Biomarkers in Meniscus Injury to the Knee

73 participantsStarted 2006-06

Plain-language summary

The diagnosis of clinically-significant meniscal tears of the knee remains challenging, and it is unknown why only some injuries become painful. The limitations of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging result in arthroscopy that is not always beneficial. Elucidation of biochemical pathways underlying pain in this condition may aid patient selection for surgery and provide pharmacotherapeutic targets. Cytokines may be involved in pain following meniscus injury and diagnostic cytokine assay may help physicians differentiate patients that may benefit from arthroscopy from those that may not.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 90 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients with knee pain \< 6 months with acute onset who had failed conservative treatment and elected for arthroscopic management. Indications for surgery included the presence of mechanical symptoms on history, a physical examination positive for McMurray's maneuver or joint line tenderness or both32, absence of severe joint space narrowing on plain radiography1 33, and the presence of grade III signal changes on MRI35 in an anatomic location consistent with the history and physical examination. Exclusion Criteria: * Less than 18 years old. * Recent (within three months) intra-articular corticosteroid injection and past or current medical history of autoimmune disease (i.e. rheumatoid arthritis). * In addition, no patients involved in a worker's compensation claim or personal injury litigation were enrolled in the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00836966

SponsorScuderi, Gaetano J., M.D.

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2007-06

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cartilage Diseases trials