Mean cost in € per participant in the PT and APM group and mean cost differences between groups during the 2-year follow-up
| Cost category | PT (n=161) mean (SEM) | APM (n=158) mean (SEM) | Cost difference crude, mean (95% CI) | Cost difference adjusted*, mean (95% CI) |
| Intervention costs | 488 (10) | 1964 (73) | −1476 (−1682 to −1370) | −1468 (−1680 to −1347) |
| Other healthcare costs | 1527 (145) | 1238 (205) | 289 (−301 to 689) | 347 (−276 to 726) |
| Primary care | 407 (49) | 734 (185) | −326 (−950 to −81) | −309 (−954 to −1347) |
| Secondary care | 1114 (126) | 499 (51) | 615 (393 to 928) | 655 (436 to 935) |
| Medication | 6 (1) | 5 (1) | 1 (−2 to 4) | 1 (−2 to 4) |
| Paid help costs | 29 (12) | 151 (60) | −122 (−333 to -42) | −134 (−358 to -49) |
| Informal care costs | 290 (58) | 573 (140) | −282 (−648 to −62) | −216 (−489 to −8) |
| Absenteeism costs | 225 (48) | 337 (51) | −112 (−238 to 12) | −83 (−200 to 35) |
| Presenteeism costs | 424 (73) | 328 (60) | 96 (−77 to 265) | 118 (−44 to 285) |
| Unpaid productivity costs | 952 (169) | 1402 (218) | −449 (−988 to 49) | −369 (−845 to 79) |
| Total | 3935 (334) | 5991 (504) | −2056 (−3343 to −1002) | −1803 (−3008 to −838) |
*Adjusted for level of osteoarthritis on the Kellgren-Lawrence scale, mechanical complaints, the affected meniscus (medial, lateral or both), body mass index, age, gender and education level.
APM, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy;PT, physical therapy;n, number of.