Abstract
Aim: To assess the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) for the assessment of soft tissue knee pathology?
Method: In a prospective study, we compared the OKS against the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC 2000) and the Lysholm Scores (Lys). We also assessed the OKS with retrograde and antegrade (as currently used in Oxford) numbering. All patients completed 3 questionnaires stating which was the simplest from their perspective. We recruited 73 patients from the orthopaedic and physiotherapy clinics, meeting the following criteria:
Results: Linear regression analysis revealed no significant difference between all 3 scores (R2=0.7823, P< 0.0001). The OKS correlated best with the IKDC (r=0.7483, Fig1), but less so with the Lys (r=0.3278, Fig2). The reversed OKS did not correlate as well (R2= 0.2603) with either the IKDC (r= −0.2978) or the Lys (r= −0.2586). ANOVA showed the OKS to be significantly easier than Lys to complete (p< 0.0001), but not significantly easier than IKDC (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: The OKS is patient friendly and reliable in assessing soft tissue knee injury. This is particularly useful if the OKS is already in use within a department for measurement of severity of degenerative disease.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Tim Wilton, BASK at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
