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. 2020 May 8;21(1):287.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03311-4.

Compensation claims after knee cartilage surgery is rare. A registry-based study from Scandinavia from 2010 to 2015

Tommy Frøseth Aae  1   2 , Øystein Bjerkestrand Lian  3   4 , Asbjørn Årøen  5   6   7 , Lars Engebretsen  8   7   9 , Per-Henrik Randsborg  5
Affiliations

Compensation claims after knee cartilage surgery is rare. A registry-based study from Scandinavia from 2010 to 2015

Tommy Frøseth Aae et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Focal cartilage defects (FCDs) in the knee joint has a high prevalence. A broad range of treatment options exists for symptomatic patients. Knowledge of patient compensation claims following surgical treatment of FCDs is missing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate compensation claims filed to the Scandinavian registries for patient compensation following treatment of FCDs in the knee joint from 2010 to 2015 and identify possible areas of improvement.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to obtain all complaints following surgical treatment of FCDs from the Scandinavian registries from 2010 to 2015. Data such as age, gender, type of treatment, type of complaint, reason of verdict and amount of compensation were collected and systematically analyzed.

Results: 103 patients filed a compensation claim. 43 had received debridement (41.7%), 54 microfracture (MF) (52.4%), 3 mosaicplasty (2.9%) and 3 autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) (2.9%). Of the 103 claims, 36 were granted (35%). 21 following debridement (58.3%), 13 after MF (36.1%), 1 following mosaicplasty (2.8%) and 1 after ACI (2.8%). The most common reason for complaint was infection (22.1%), of which 89% were granted. The average compensation was €24.457 (range €209 - €458.943).

Conclusion: Compensation claims following surgical treatment of knee cartilage injuries in Scandinavia are rare. Establishing nationwide cartilage registries can add further knowledge on this troublesome disease.

Keywords: Articular cartilage; Autologous chondrocyte implantation; Compensation claim; Microfracture.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of patient’s selection included in the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Complaints filed to the Scandinavian registries following surgical treatment of focal cartilage defects in the knee joint between 2010 and 2015
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Nationwide distribution of complaints put forward to the Scandinavian registries following surgical treatment of focal cartilage defects in the knee joint between 2010 and 2015
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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