Defining Minimal Clinically Important Difference Thresholds for Pediatric Knee Surgeries

The authors aimed to establish minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds for various pediatric-specific patient-reported outcome instruments following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) in patients under 18 years old. They calculated MCIDs for the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale, Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee, and PROMIS questionnaires, finding that negative MCIDs indicated improvements in pain and activity levels post-surgery. This study provides essential benchmarks for evaluating outcomes in pediatric knee surgeries.