Optimized Referral of Knee Patients at the Clinic of Sports Injuries

According to current practice, patients referred to the Clinic of Sports Injuries will be assessed by either a physician or a physiotherapist. Current practice will continue unchanged during this study.

Before the scheduled assessment, patients will be asked to fulfill a questionnaire including KOOS, a further description of symptoms, previous treatment by physiotherapist and expected upcoming treatment (i.e. surgery or referral to physiotherapist).

An algorithm based on the self-reported information will be used to categorize whether the patient are considered relevant to be referred to assessment by a physician or to assessment by a physiotherapist.

After clinical assessment of the patient, the physician or physiotherapist does a registration of diagnosis, choice of treatment and complexity. Based on choice of treatment and complexity, the patient will be categorized as either relevant to be referred to assessment by a physician or to assessment by a physiotherapist. This categorization is by definition considered correct.

The ability of the algorithm will be evaluated by comparing it's categorization to the correct result. Sensitivity will be estimated.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients above the age of 35 referred to the Clinic of Sports Injuries with knee symptoms

Exclusion criteria

• Cognitive or language problems that precludes the filling of the questionnaires
• Previous surgery in the knee
• Symptoms only located in the anterior part of the knee