Fig. 3

The study question analysis flowchart in randomized controlled trials on effectiveness of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. The sequence is the following: Study population → Intervention effectiveness per se or intervention effectiveness in routine health care (blinded or non-blinded design) → Degree of selection (representative or non-representative study population) → Subcategory of the study population → Prior treatments before the experiment → Content of the index and reference interventions → Reference to the study; Primary outcome measures. ¹ KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score); ²Lysholm (Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale): ³Tegner Activity Scale; ⁴VAS visual analog scale for pain; ⁵WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index);⁶WOMET (Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool)