Table 1

Overview of systematic reviews

TopicObjective(s)Synthesis typeRoB and
certainty of evidence tools
Burden of traumatic ACL or meniscal tear17 Primary: synthesise evidence on physical activity, work limitations, health/economic costs, disease burden, and HRQoL outcomes ≥2 years after traumatic ACL and/or meniscal injury
Secondary: determine the burden of living with knee symptoms and OA after traumatic ACL and/or meniscal injury
Meta-analyses
Narrative
RoB: NIHQAT34
Certainty: GRADE50
Risk factors for knee OA after traumatic knee injury29 Primary: identify and quantify the magnitude of potential modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for symptomatic and structural knee OA following a traumatic knee injuryMeta-analyses and semi-quantitativeRoB: QUIPS51
Certainty: GRADE approach for prognostic factor reviews52
Rehabilitation after traumatic ACL and meniscal tear: clinical outcomes30 Primary: critically appraise and synthesise systematic review evidence of RCTs assessing rehabilitation interventions following ACL and/or meniscal tear to improve symptomatic, functional, clinical, psychosocial or quality of life outcomes and prevent re-injuryNarrativeRoB: ROBIS tool53
Certainty: GRADE54
Rehabilitation after traumatic ACL and meniscal tear: structural and molecular biomarkers35 Primary: synthesise existing RCT evidence of different management strategies and rehabilitation approaches to ACL and/or meniscal tear on structural and molecular biomarkers of knee joint healthNarrativeRoB: Cochrane ROB 2.0 tool1
Certainty: GRADE43
Meaningful thresholds for patient reported outcomes for traumatic ACL or meniscal tear36 Primary: identify, critically appraise and synthesise estimates for thresholds defining meaningful PROs scores for use with individuals treated for a traumatic ACL tear and/or meniscal injuryMeta-analyses
Narrative
Credibility: MIDCAT55
Measurement properties of functional performance tests following traumatic ACL or meniscal tear38 Primary: synthesise and critically appraise the measurement properties of functional performance tests in individuals following ACL and/or meniscal tearMeta-analyses
Narrative
RoB: COSMIN checklist48 56
Certainty: GRADE approach for PROs57
Measurement properties of muscle strength tests following traumatic ACL or meniscal tear37 Primary: synthesise and critically appraise the measurement properties of knee extensor and flexor strength in individuals following ACL and/or meniscal tearMeta-analyses
Narrative
RoB: COSMIN checklist48 58
Certainty: GRADE approach for PROs57
  • ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; COSMIN, COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach; HRQoL, health-related quality of life; MIDCAT, Minimal Important Difference Credibility Assessment Tool; NIHQAT, National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tools; OA, osteoarthritis; PROs, patient-reported outcomes; QUIPS, Quality in Prognosis Studies; RCT, randomised controlled trial; ROB, risk-of-bias; ROBIS, Risk of Bias In Systematic reviews.