When to Use

• General knee-specific outcome measure for patients with ligament or meniscal injuries.
• Evaluating symptoms, function, and sports activity across a variety of knee conditions (ACL/PCL, Meniscus, Patellofemoral).
• Pre- and post-operative monitoring of surgical interventions.

Target Population

Domain Structure

1. 1Symptoms: 7 items (Pain, Stiffness, Swelling, Locking, Giving way).
2. 2Sports Activity: 2 items (Highest level of activity without symptoms).
3. 3Function: 2 items (Current vs. Pre-injury function).

Scoring Formula

Interpretation

Scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores represent better function and fewer symptoms.

IKDC vs. Lysholm

The IKDC is generally considered more responsive to change across a broader spectrum of knee pathologies than the Lysholm score, which is more focused on instability (ACL/meniscus).

Clinical Pearls

Management Priorities

1. 1Score Improvement: Demonstrates effectiveness of current rehab/surgical strategy.
2. 2Plateauing Scores: May indicate a need for more intensive strengthening or a change in surgical approach (e.g., cartilage restoration).
3. 3Low Activity Scores: Focus on "Sport-Specific Drills" if the "Activity" domain is the primary driver of the low score.

Related Tools

Standard Reference