Adults with degenerative meniscal tear receiving arthroscopic surgical management or knee drainage (arthrocentesis) +/- intra-articular steroid injection will be recruited to this non-interventional cohort study. The aim is to investigate whether measurement of an individual's synovial fluid biomarker response to a degenerative meniscal tear with symptoms predicts symptomatic and functional outcome suggestive of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
Who can participate
Age range
30 Years – 60 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
. Male or female aged 30-60 years.
. Participant able and willing to give informed consent.
. Clinical assessment demonstrates mechanical symptoms suggestive of meniscal pathology (focal knee pain +/- 1 or more of: catching/locking, giving way, focal joint-line tenderness, effusion, McMurray's positive) within last 12 months.
. Evidence on clinical MRI knee of meniscal tear.
. Participant is either in secondary care or has the potential to be referred to secondary care due to severity of symptoms.
. Patient has failed conservative therapy and elected for surgical arthroscopic treatment, or is due knee drainage/injection for clinical reasons.
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.
What they're measuring
1
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS)-4