German IQWIG published the final report of assessment of continuous active motion in the treatment of rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament

In 2016, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) commissioned the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to perform evaluation of controlled active motion (CAM) in patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. The final report of assessment was published on May of 2017.

Analysis of evidence demonstrated that there are no clinical studies on the self-application of the controlled active motion devices. Two randomized controlled studies for application of CAM in clinical settings were identified, one of them compared CAM (CAMOPED, Oped) with continuous passive motion (CPM; Device - Arthromed, Ormed) and one compared CAM (Camoped, Oped) with no movement. Considered studies were characterized by small sample size and short follow-up period.

There was no evidence of a benefit or harm of post-treatment with CAM compared to post-treatment with CPM or without movement. The endpoints proprioceptive deficit and adverse events could not be used as patient-relevant endpoints in these studies. Therefore, strict conclusion could not be made.

For the end-points of morbidity, daily life activities, dependency on the help of other persons and participation in the occupational and social life, it was concluded that no statement could be given about a benefit or harm of treatment with CAM devices in comparison to the other two treatment options.

No recommendations were given for the home use of CAM due to unclear benefit and harm of this technology.

So, overall, no definite conclusion can be made in relation to comparative efficacy and safety of studied technologies due to lack of evidence.

See full report in German here.

See press release in German here.

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