Table 2 Comparison of three clinical scores between and within two groups at different follow-up time points

VAS

3W

4.00 (3.00,5.00)^*

3.50 (3.00,5.00)^*

6W

2.50 (2.00,3.00)^*a

3.00 (3.00,4.00)^*

3 M

2.00(1.00,3.00)^*ab

3.00 (3.00,5.00)^*

6 M

1.00 (1.00,2.25)^*ab

3.00 (2.75,5.25)^*bc

P (within-group)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

Group effect (Wald χ2, P)

6.376,0.012

Time effect (Wald χ2,P)

404.007, < 0.001

Interaction effect (Wald χ2,P)

27.533, < 0.001

WOMAC

3W

49.00 (39.50,55.00)^*

46.50 (36.00, 55.25)^*

6W

38.50 (32.75, 43.25)^*a

45.50 (38.00,55.00)^*

3 M

23.50 (22.00,48.00)^*ab

44.00 (36.50,58.75)^*

6 M

21.00 (17.75,46.50)^*ab

44.50 (35.25,58.00)^*

P (within-group)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

Group effect (F, P)

5.145,0.023

Time effect (F,P)

213.962, < 0.001

Interaction effect (F,P)

22.630, < 0.001

LYSHOLM

3W

80.00 (72.00, 85.00)^*

78.00 (74.75, 82.00)*

6W

80.00 (72.00, 85.00)^*a

78.50(72.75,80.00)^*

3 M

90.00(78.00,91.00)^*ab

79.00(64.75,82.00)^*

6 M

90.00(80.25,92.00)^*ab

79.00(62.50,82.75)^*

P (within-group)

 < 0.001

 < 0.001

Group effect (F, P)

13.915, < 0.001

Time effect (F,P)

172.084, < 0.001

Interaction effect (F,P)

16.418,0.003