THE ASSESSMENT OF ELBOW FUNCTION USING THE MODIFIED CONSTANT SCORE – A GLOBAL EVALUATION OF UPPER LIMB FUNCTION.

Abstract

Aim: As the shoulder and elbow joints share a common objective – spatial positioning of the hand – can the Modified Constant Score of shoulder function be applied to function at the elbow?

Method & Results: All patients with isolated elbow pathology over an eighteen-month period were assessed. Acute fractures and patients with shoulder and/or wrist pathology were excluded. Upper limb function was assessed using the Modified Constant Score and the Mayo Elbow Performance Index. A total of 48 patients with a variety of elbow pathologies were assessed. The mean patient age was 47.8 years, and 26 patients were male. The correlation between the two scoring systems was highly significant (correlation 0.91, t = < 0.001)

Conclusion: The Modified Constant Score may be used as an assessment of both shoulder and elbow function.