This observational study aims to evaluate the long-term recovery and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive (arthroscopic) surgeries for sports-related shoulder and knee injuries.
Sports injuries, such as ligament tears, meniscus damage, and rotator cuff tears, are common and can significantly impact a person's daily life and ability to return to sports. While surgery is an effective treatment, the recovery process and final outcomes can vary greatly from person to person.
Researchers will follow patients who are already scheduled for routine shoulder or knee surgery at the study center. By collecting detailed information about the patient's initial injury, the specific surgical techniques used by the doctor, and the patient's recovery progress over two years, the study hopes to identify which factors lead to the best healing and functional outcomes.
Participants will be asked to complete standard questionnaires about their joint function and pain levels before their surgery, and again at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. The study is strictly observational; it will not change the standard medical care, surgical plan, or rehabilitation routine the patients receive.
Age >= 8 years.
No gender restrictions.
Definitive diagnosis of shoulder or knee sports injuries or related joint conditions.
Scheduled to undergo elective, standard-of-care surgery at the study center (procedures include but are not limited to: arthroscopic meniscus repair/meniscectomy, cartilage repair, cruciate ligament reconstruction, high tibial osteotomy [HTO], unicompartmental knee arthroplasty [UKA], arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilization, and shoulder arthroplasty).
Patients requiring emergency surgery due to acute, severe trauma (e.g., open fractures, polytrauma).
Coexisting severe neurological or psychiatric diseases, or cognitive impairment that prevents understanding of the informed consent or cooperation with follow-up.
Patients in an involuntary state (e.g., under coercion).
Refusal to sign the informed consent form or refusal to participate in the study.
The study population consists of consecutive real-world patients presenting to the sports medicine clinic or inpatient ward at the study center. These are patients who have been diagnosed with shoulder or knee joint pathologies and are scheduled to receive standard-of-care elective surgical treatments.
Cohort
Prospective
Standard of Care Shoulder Arthroscopy
Procedure/SurgeryRoutine, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical procedures tailored to the patient's specific shoulder pathology, followed by standard postoperative rehabilitation. This is strictly observational; no experimental procedures are introduced.
Standard of Care Knee Arthroscopy
Procedure/SurgeryRoutine, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical procedures tailored to the patient's specific knee pathology, followed by standard postoperative rehabilitation. This is strictly observational; no experimental procedures are introduced.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for Joint Function
Validated questionnaires evaluate function, symptoms, and QoL based on the specific cohort. 1. Higher scores indicate better outcomes (better function / less symptoms): Score 0 to 100: IKDC, Pedi-IKDC, KOOS, ACL-RSI, WOMET, Kujala AKPS, BPII 2.0, ASES, Rowe score, and EQ-5D VAS. Score 0 to 48: OSIS (Oxford Shoulder Instability) and OSS (Oxford Shoulder). Score 0 to 10: Tegner Activity Scale (higher = higher activity level). Score 0 to 16: Marx Activity Scale (higher = higher activity level). 2. Lower scores indicate better outcomes (less pain / less disability): Score 0 to 10: VAS and NRS (for pain). Score 0 to 100: Quick-DASH (upper extremity disability).
Incidence of Postoperative Complications
Tracking the occurrence rate of any adverse events related to the surgery, including but not limited to surgical site infection, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), severe joint stiffness requiring manipulation, and graft failure or re-rupture requiring revision surgery.
Pain Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Assessment of joint pain at rest and during activity using a 10-point Visual Analog Scale, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "worst imaginable pain."
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