First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries
About this PSP
The First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries PSP worked with patients, carers and clinicians to identify and prioritise uncertainties about the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and delivery of care relating to first time soft tissue knee injuries. Soft tissue injuries comprise a wide range of injuries including patella (kneecap) dislocations, ligament injuries and cartilage injuries (meniscus/joint surface).
The First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries PSP Top 10 was published in January 2023.
PSP website
Articles and publications
Key documents
First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries PSP Protocol
First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries PSP Terms of Reference
First Time Soft Tissue Knee Injuries Question Verification Form
Top 10 priorities
- How urgently do soft tissue knee injuries need to be treated for the best outcome?
- What are the implications of soft tissue knee injuries on future knee disease?
- What makes an effective soft tissue knee injury prevention programme?
- What is the impact of treatment delays on soft tissue knee outcomes and satisfaction?
- When should operative vs non-operative management for common soft tissue knee injuries be performed?
- What is the best management for children and adolescents with new ACL injuries?
- What is the best way to diagnose soft tissue knee injuries?
- Does blood in the knee joint cause damage and should it be aspirated (joint swelling reduced with a needle) following a soft tissue knee injury?
- Should braces be given for soft tissue knee injuries?
- What is the best rehabilitation for common soft tissue knee injuries?
The following questions were also discussed and put in order of priority at the workshop:
- What is the best imaging pathway in the Emergency Department for soft tissue knee injuries to ensure patients are diagnosed rapidly and correctly?
- How effective are soft tissue knee injury prevention programmes in preventing injury (in the wider population & athletes)?
- What is the best management for new meniscal injuries?
- Should range of movement and weight bearing status be immediately restricted following a soft tissue knee injury until a diagnosis is reached?
- Who should have an MRI scan after a soft tissue knee injury?
- What is the best management for new ACL injuries in adults?
- What causes delays in diagnosing soft tissue knee injuries and what are the consequences?
- How soon should an MRI scan be performed for best soft tissue knee injury outcomes?
- What is the best management of cartilage (joint surface) injuries?
- What is the best management for new knee cap dislocations?
- How soon should locked knees (unable to fully straighten) be operated on for the best outcome?
- What rehabilitation is best for ACL injuries?
- Who should be referred to knee injury clinics?
- Is there a role for ‘orthobiologics’ (naturally occurring human substances with the potential ability to heal) in improving soft tissue knee injury outcomes?
- When should physiotherapy start after a soft tissue knee injury?
- What rehabilitation is best for knee cap dislocations?
- Who is the best healthcare professional to initially assess and diagnose soft tissue knee injuries?
Document downloads
For full details of all of the questions identified by this PSP, please see the document below.