Increased collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) in registries enables international comparison of patient-centered outcomes after knee and hip replacement. We aimed to investigate 1) variations in PROM improvement, 2) the possible confounding factor of BMI, and 3) differences in comorbidity distributions between registries. Registries affiliated with the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries (ISAR) or OECD membership countries were invited to report aggregate EQ-5D, OKS, OHS, HOOS-PS and KOOS-PS values. Eligible patients underwent primary total, unilateral knee or hip replacement for osteoarthritis within three years and had completed PROMs preoperatively and either 6 or 12 months postoperatively, excluding patients with subsequent revisions. For each PROM cohort, Chi-square tests were performed for BMI distributions across registries and 12 predefined PROM strata (male/female, age 20-64/65-74/>75, high or low preoperative PROM scores). Comorbidity distributions were reported for available comorbidity indexes. Thirteen registries from 9 countries contributed data, n~130000 knee (range 140 to 79848) and n~113000 hip (range 137 to 85281). Mean EQ-5D index values (10 registries) ranged from 0.53 to 0.71 (knee) and 0.50 to 0.70 (hips) preoperatively and 0.78 to 0.85 (knee) and 0.83 to 0.87 (hip) postoperatively. Mean OKS (6 registries) ranged from 19.3 to 23.6 preoperatively and 36.2 to 41.2 postoperatively. Mean OHS (7 registries) ranged from 18.0 to 23.2 preoperatively and 39.8 to 44.2 postoperatively. Four registries reported KOOS-PS and three reported HOOS-PS. Proportions of patients with BMI >30 ranged from 35 to 62% (10 knee registries) and 16 to 43% (11 hip registries). For both knee and hip registries, distributions of patients across six BMI categories differed significantly among registries (p30 were for patients in the youngest age groups (20 to 64 and 65 to 74 years) with the lowest baseline scores. Additionally, females with lowest preoperative PROM scores had highest BMI. These findings were echoed for the OHS and OKS cohorts. Proportions of patients with ASA scores ≥3 ranged from 7 to 42% (9 knee registries) and 6 to 35% (8 hip registries). PROM-score improvement varies between international registries, which may be partially explained by differences in age, sex and preoperative scores. BMI and comorbidity may be relevant to adjust for

Introduction. LIMB-Q Kids is a new patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for children with Lower limb differences (LLDs). The objective is to conduct an international field test study. Materials & Methods. A mixed method multiphase approach was used to develop LIMB-Q Kids. In phase one, a systematic review was conducted to identify concepts from existing PROMs used in research with children with LLDs. A preliminary conceptual framework derived from the systematic review informed an international qualitative study. The data from qualitative interviews were used to form the LIMB-Q Kids, which was further refined through multiple rounds of cognitive debriefing interviews with children. Input was obtained from parents and healthcare professionals from Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, India, UK, and the USA. LIMB-Q Kids was translated and culturally adapted into multiple languages. Results. The final field-test version consists of 11 scales (159 items) that measure appearance, physical function, symptoms (hip, knee, ankle, foot, and leg), leg-related distress, and school, social and psychological function. This version was rigorously translated into Danish and German. Translations that are in progress include Arabic, Finnish, Hindi, Swahili, Portuguese, Spanish, and Luganda. An international field-test study is underway in nine countries (15 sites with a target recruitment of 150 participants per country). At the time of abstract submission, 190 patients from seven sites have completed LIMB-Q Kids. The UK collaborative has worked on language adaption for the UK and is currently validating the score across five paediatric limb reconstruction units. Conclusions. No internationally applicable PROM exists for children with LLDs. We present the current progress in developing and validating such a score. Data from the international field-test study will be used to reduce items and perform psychometric testing of LIMB-Q Kids. The rigorous translation and cultural adaption process will provide versions of LIMB-Q Kids in different languages. Once completed, the LIMB-Q Kids will provide a common metric for outcome assessment for children with lower limb differences internationally

Aims. Patients undergoing limb reconstruction surgery often face a challenging and lengthy process to complete their treatment journey. The majority of existing outcome measures do not adequately capture the patient-reported outcomes relevant to this patient group in a single measure. Following a previous systematic review, the Stanmore Limb Reconstruction Score (SLRS) was designed with the intent to address this need for an effective instrument to measure patient-reported outcomes in limb reconstruction patients. We aim to assess the face validity of this score in a pilot study. Methods. The SLRS was designed following structured interviews with several groups including patients who have undergone limb reconstruction surgery, limb reconstruction surgeons, specialist nurses, and physiotherapists. This has subsequently undergone further adjustment for language and clarity. The score was then trialled on ten patients who had undergone limb reconstruction surgery, with subsequent structured questioning to understand the perceived suitability of the score. Results. Ten patients completed the score and the subsequent structured interview. Considering the tool as a whole, 100% of respondents felt the score to be comprehensible, relevant, and comprehensive regarding the areas that were important to a patient undergoing limb reconstruction surgery. For individual questions, on a five-point Likert scale, importance/relevance was reported as a mean of 4.78 (4.3 to 5.0), with ability to understand rated as 4.92 (4.7 to 5.0) suggesting high levels of relevance and comprehension. Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level was calculated as 5.2 (10 to 11 years old). Conclusion. The current SLRS has been shown to have acceptable scores from a patient sample regarding relevance, comprehensibility, and comprehensiveness. This suggests face validity, however further testing required and is ongoing in a larger cohort of patients to determine the reliability, responsiveness, precision, and criterion validity of the score in this patient group. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(9):705–709

Introduction

Patients undergoing limb reconstruction surgery often face a challenging and often lengthy process to complete their treatment journey. The majority of existing outcome measures do not adequately capture the patient reported outcomes relevant to this patient group in a single measure. Following a previous systematic review, the Stanmore Limb Reconstruction Score (SLRS) was designed with the intent to address this need for an effective instrument to measure patient reported outcomes in limb reconstruction patients.

Aims. Chronic osteomyelitis (COM) of the lower limb in adults can be surgically managed by either limb reconstruction or amputation. This scoping review aims to map the outcomes used in studies surgically managing COM in order to aid future development of a core outcome set. Methods. A total of 11 databases were searched. A subset of studies published between 1 October 2020 and 1 January 2011 from a larger review mapping research on limb reconstruction and limb amputation for the management of lower limb COM were eligible. All outcomes were extracted and recorded verbatim. Outcomes were grouped and categorized as per the revised Williamson and Clarke taxonomy. Results. A total of 3,303 records were screened, of which 99 studies were included. Most studies were case series (77/99; 78%) and assessed one method of reconstruction (68/99; 69%). A total of 511 outcomes were reported, which were grouped into 58 distinct outcomes. Overall, 143/511 of all outcomes (28%) were provided with a clear, in-text definition, and 231 outcomes (45%) had details reported of how and when they were measured. The most commonly reported outcome was ‘recurrence of osteomyelitis’ (62; 12%). The single-most patient-reported outcome measure was ‘pain’. Conclusion. This study has highlighted significant inconsistencies in the defining, reporting, and measuring of outcomes across studies investigating surgical management for chronic osteomyelitis of the lower limb in adults. Future studies should clearly report complete details of how outcomes are defined and measured, including timing. The development of a standardized core outcome set would be of significant benefit in order to allow evidence synthesis and comparison across studies. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(3):146–157

Introduction. There are concerns that patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) currently used for adults requiring, undergoing or after undergoing lower limb reconstruction (LLR) are not adequately capturing the range of experiences important to these patients. The ‘Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Lower Limb Reconstruction’ (PROLLIT) study developed a conceptual framework of outcomes identified as important and relevant by adult LLR patients. This review explored whether existing PROMs address these outcomes, and exhibit content validity in this population. Materials & Methods. A range of key PROMs was selected (n=32). Systematic and hand-searches were employed to find studies assessing content validity of these PROMs in the adult LLR population, along with PROM content and development information. A systematic review of content validity of the measures was carried out following ‘COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments’ (COSMIN) guidance, alongside conceptual mapping of the content of the PROMs against the PROLLIT conceptual framework. Results. The searches uncovered very few content validity studies assessing the PROMs when applied in adult LLR patients. The COSMIN review found that these measures lacked content validity when applied in this population. The conceptual mapping found that PROMs did not capture all concepts identified as important and relevant in the PROLLIT framework. Conclusions. Existing PROMs applied in the adult LLR population lack content validity and fail to adequately capture relevant outcomes for this patient group. There is a need for a new, dedicated PROM designed for adult LLR patients

Over 500 supracondylar humerus fractures (SCHF) are treated at our institution each year. Our standard post-operative pathway includes a 3-week visit for splint removal, wire removal, and radiographs. Subsequent follow-up occurs at 12 weeks for a clinical examination. In an effort to minimize unnecessary follow-up visits, we investigated whether photographs and/or patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores could identify patients who do not need routine 3-month in-person follow-up. At the 3-month visit, 248 SCHF patients (mean 6.2 yrs; 0.75-11yrs) had bilateral elbow motion (ROM) and carrying angles measured; and photographs documenting frontal and sagittal alignment of both injured and uninjured upper extremities, in both maximum elbow flexion and extension. Two independent assessors made the same measurements off the clinical photographs to compare these with the clinical measurements. Two PROMs: Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ: 0 best to 14 worst) and QuickDASH (0 best to 100 worst) were completed at the 3-month visit. Inter-rater reliability of the photograph measurements was excellent (Kappa: 0.88-0.93), but weakly concordant with clinical measurements (carrying angle Kappa=0.51;max flexion Kappa=0.68;max extension Kappa=0.64). SAQ moderately correlated with QuickDASH (Kappa=0.59) and performed better at identifying patients with abnormalities. SAQ score ≥ 4 identified patients meeting 3-month follow-up criteria, with sensitivity: 36.1%; specificity: 96.8% and negative-predictive-value (NPV): 87%. We did not find that photographs were reliable. Although SAQ-score has high NPV, a more sensitive fracture-specific PROM is needed to identify patients who do not need a 3-month follow-up visit

Glenoid bone grafting in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has emerged as an effective method of restoring bone stock in the presence of complex glenoid bone loss, yet there is limited published evidence on efficacy. The aim of this study was to conduct an analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes associated with glenoid bone grafting in primary RTSA. Patients who underwent a primary RTSA with glenoid bone grafting were retrospectively identified from the databases of two senior shoulder surgeons. Inclusion criteria included minimum of 12 months clinical and/or radiographical follow up. Patients underwent preoperative clinical and radiographic assessment. Graft characteristics (source, type, preparation), range of movement (ROM), patient-reported outcome measures (Oxford Shoulder Scores [OSS]), and complications were recorded. Radiographic imaging was used to analyse implant stability, graft incorporation, and notching by two independent reviewers. Between 2013 and 2021, a total of 53 primary RTSA procedures (48 patients) with glenoid bone grafting were identified. Humeral head autograft was used in 51 (96%) of cases. Femoral head allograft was utilised in two cases. Depending on the morphology of glenoid bone loss, a combination of structural (corticocancellous) and non-structural (cancellous) grafts were used to restore glenoid bone stock and the joint line. All grafts were incorporated at review. The mean post-operative OSS was significantly higher than the pre-operative OSS (40 vs. 22, p < 0.001). ROM was significantly improved post-operatively. One patient is being investigated for residual activity-related shoulder pain. This patient also experienced scapular notching resulting in the fracturing of the inferior screw. One patient experienced recurrent dislocations but was not revised. Overall, at short term follow up, glenoid bone grafting was effective in addressing glenoid bone loss with excellent functional and clinical outcomes when used for complex bone loss in primary RTSA. The graft incorporation rate was high, with an associated low complication rate

Hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is a bone conserving alternative to total hip arthroplasty. We present the early 1 and 2-year clinical and radiographical follow-up of a novel ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) HRA in a multi-centric Australian cohort. Patient undergoing HRA between September 2018 and April 2021 were prospectively included. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in the form of the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), HOOS Jr, WOMAC, Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and UCLA Activity Score were collected preoperatively and at 1- and 2-years post-operation. Serial radiographs were assessed for migration, component alignment, evidence of osteolysis/loosening and heterotopic ossification formation. 209 patients were identified of which 106 reached 2-year follow-up. Of these, 187 completed PROMS at 1 year and 90 at 2 years. There was significant improvement in HOOS (p< 0.001) and OHS (p< 0.001) between the pre-operative, 1-year and 2-years outcomes. Patients also reported improved pain (p<0.001), function (p<0.001) and reduced stiffness (p<0.001) as measured by the WOMAC score. Patients had improved activity scores on the UCLA Active Score (p<0.001) with 53% reporting return to impact activity at 2 years. FJS at 1 and 2-years were not significantly different (p=0.38). There was no migration, osteolysis or loosening of any of the implants. The mean acetabular cup inclination angle was 41.3° and the femoral component shaft angle was 137°. No fractures were reported over the 2-year follow-up with only 1 patient reporting a sciatic nerve palsy. There was early return to impact activities in more than half our patients at 2 years with no early clinical or radiological complications related to the implant. Longer term follow-up with increased patient numbers are required to restore surgeon confidence in HRA and expand the use of this novel product. In conclusion, CoC resurfacing at 2-years post-operation demonstrate promising results with satisfactory outcomes in all recorded PROMS

Obesity is associated with worse outcomes following total knee/hip arthroplasty (TKA/TKA). This study aimed to determine the feasibility of a dietitian-led low-inflammatory weight-loss program for people with obesity awaiting arthroplasty. Quasi-experimental pilot study enrolled people with obesity waitlisted for primary TKA/THA into ‘usual care’ (UC) or weight-loss (low-inflammatory diet) program (Diet). Recruitment occurred between July 2019 and February 2020 at Fairfield and Campbelltown Hospitals. Assessments at baseline, pre-surgery, time of surgery and 90-days following surgery included anthropometric measurements, patient-reported outcomes, serum biomarkers and 90-day postoperative complication rate. 97 people consented to the study (UC, n=47, mean age 67, BMI 37, TKA 79%; Diet, n=50, mean age 66, BMI 36, TKA 72%). Baseline characteristics indicated gross joint impairments and poor compliance with a low-inflammatory diet. Study feasibility criteria included recruitment rate (52%), proportion of diet patients that improved compliance to low-inflammatory diet by ≥10% (57%) and had ≥60% attendance of dietitian consultations (72%), proportion of patients who undertook serum biomarkers (55%). By presurgery assessments, the diet group had more patients who cancelled their surgery due to symptom improvement (4 vs 0), reduced waist-circumference measurements, increased compliance with the Low-Inflammatory diet and preservation of physical activity parameters. More usual care participants experienced at least one postoperative complication to 90-days (59% vs 47%) and were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (21% vs 11%). There was no difference in weight change, physical function, and patient-reported outcome measures from pre-surgery to 90-days post-surgery, and length of hospital stay. Using pre-determined feasibility criteria, conducting a definitive trial is not feasible. However, intervention audit demonstrated high intervention fidelity. Pilot data suggest our program may promote weight loss but the clinical effects for most are modest. Further research utilising a stronger intervention may be required to assess the effectiveness of a pre-arthroplasty weight-loss intervention

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have failed to highlight differences in function or outcome when comparing knee replacement designs and implantation techniques. Ankle-worn inertial measurement units (IMUs) can be used to remotely measure and monitor the bi-lateral impact load of patients, augmenting traditional PROMs with objective data. The aim of this study was to compare IMU-based impact loads with PROMs in patients who had undergone conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), and robotic-assisted TKA (RA-TKA). 77 patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty (29 RA-TKA, 37 TKA, and 11 UKA) for osteoarthritis were prospectively enrolled. Remote patient monitoring was performed pre-operatively, then weekly from post-operative weeks two to six using ankle-worn IMUs and PROMs. IMU-based outcomes included: cumulative impact load, bone stimulus, and impact load asymmetry. PROMs scores included: Oxford Knee Score (OKS), EuroQol Five-dimension with EuroQol visual analogue scale, and the Forgotten Joint Score. On average, patients showed improved impact load asymmetry by 67% (p=0.001), bone stimulus by 41% (p<0.001), and cumulative impact load by 121% (p=0.035) between post-operative week two and six. Differences in IMU-based outcomes were observed in the initial six weeks post-operatively between surgical procedures. The mean change scores for OKS were 7.5 (RA-TKA), 11.4 (TKA), and 11.2 (UKA) over the early post-operative period (p=0.144). Improvements in OKS were consistent with IMU outcomes in the RA-TKA group, however, conventional TKA and UKA groups did not reflect the same trend in improvement as OKS, demonstrating a functional decline. Our data illustrate that PROMs do not necessarily align with patient function, with some patients reporting good PROMs, yet show a decline in cumulative impact load or load asymmetry. These data also provide evidence for a difference in the functional outcome of TKA and UKA patients that might be overlooked by using PROMs alone

Source of the study: University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) has benefits for patients with appropriate indications. However, UKA has a higher risk of revision, particularly for low-usage surgeons. The introduction of robotic-arm assisted systems may allow for improved outcomes but is also associated with a learning curve. We aimed to characterise the learning curve of a robotic-arm assisted system (MAKO) for UKA in terms of operative time, limb alignment, component sizing, and patient outcomes. Operative times, pre- and post-surgical limb alignments, and component sizing were prospectively recorded for consecutive cases of primary medial UKA between 2017 and 2021 (n=152, 5 surgeons). Patient outcomes were captured with the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12) and re-operation events up to two years post-UKA. A Cumulative Summation (CUSUM) method was used to estimate learning curves and to distinguish between learning and proficiency phases. Introduction of the system had a learning curve of 11 cases. There was increased operative time of 13 minutes between learning and proficiency phases (learning 98 mins vs. proficiency 85 mins; p<0.001), associated with navigation registration and bone preparation/cutting. A learning curve was also found with polyethylene insert sizing (p=0.03). No difference in patient outcomes between the two phases were detected for patient-reported outcome measures, implant survival (both phases 98%; NS) or re-operation (learning 100% vs. proficiency: 96%; NS). Implant survival and re-operation rates did not differ between low and high usage surgeons (cut-off of 12 UKAs per year). Introduction of the robotic-arm assisted system for UKA led to increased operative times for navigation registration and bone preparation, but no differences were detected in terms of component placement or patient outcomes regardless of usage. The short learning curve regardless of UKA usage indicated that robotic-arm assisted UKA may be particularly useful for low-usage surgeons

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective surgery performed for knee osteoarthritis. Despite this success up to 20% of patients are less than fully satisfied. Rotating platform (RP) bearings have demonstrated significant reduction in rates of wear in laboratory studies but thus far have failed to demonstrate a clinical difference compared to fixed bearing (FB) arthroplasty in patients. This may be due to studies limited by small sample size and single centre design. Additionally, no studies have utilised modern patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as PKIP to investigate differences between these bearings. A non-randomised, prospective, multi-centre study was conducted across centres in Australia, United Kingdom and the United States from November 2012 to May 2015. Knee prosthesis included were the RP and FB models of the PFC Sigma Knee (Depuy, Synthes) and the ATTUNE Knee (Depuy, Synthes). Data was collected on pre-arthroplasty interventions, demographics and PROMs. PROMs included were the KOOS, OKS, EQ53DL and PKIP. Participants were followed-up for 2 years. A total of 1,718 patients were recruited across 27 centres. 959 participants underwent a FB TKA, 759 participants underwent a RP TKA. No significant difference was found between RP and FB in change from baseline at 2 years across any parameter in all PROMs investigated at 2 years. Body Mass Index pre-operatively was the biggest indicator of change from baseline at 2 years. Our data demonstrates similar improvements in the short-term in both RP and TKA across all PROMs. Patients reported similar scores in satisfaction, confidence, mobility and stability in the PKIP PROM for both RP and FB groups. We have not found any evidence to suggest that RP TKA is disadvantageous at 2 years, and this is reassuring for any surgeon looking to utilise this bearing type in practice. Our data does not demonstrate a clinical advantage in RP TKA over FB TKA at 2 years in any PROM

While clinically important improvements in Oxford Shoulder Scores have been defined for patients with general shoulder problems or those undergoing subacromial decompression, no threshold has been reported for classifying improvement after shoulder replacement surgery. This study aimed to establish the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) for the Oxford Shoulder Score in patients undergoing primary total shoulder replacement (TSR). Patient-reported outcomes data were sourced from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Program. These included pre- and 6-month post-operative Oxford Shoulder Scores and a rating of patient-perceived change after surgery (5-point scale ranging from ‘much worse’ to ‘much better’). Two anchor-based methods (using patient-perceived improvement as the anchor) were used to calculate the MCIC: 1) mean change method; and 2) predictive modelling, with and without adjustment for the proportion of improved patients. The analysis included 612 patients undergoing primary TSR who provided pre- and post-operative data (58% female; mean (SD) age 70 (8) years). Most patients (93%) reported improvement after surgery. The MCIC derived from the mean change method was 6.8 points (95%CI 4.7 to 8.9). Predictive modelling produced an MCIC estimate of 11.6 points (95%CI 8.9 to 15.6), which reduced to 8.7 points (95%CI 6.0 to 12.7) after adjustment for the proportion of improved patients. For patient-reported outcome measures to provide valuable information that can support clinical care, we need to understand the magnitude of change that matters to patients. Using contemporary psychometric methods, this analysis has generated MCIC estimates for the Oxford Shoulder Score. These estimates can be used by clinicians and researchers to interpret important changes in pain and function after TSR from the patient's perspective. We conclude that an increase in Oxford Shoulder Scores of at least 9 points can be considered a meaningful improvement in shoulder-related pain and function after TSR

Psoas tendinopathy is a potential cause of groin pain after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). The direct anterior approach (DAA) is becoming increasingly popular as the standard approach for primary THA due to being a muscle preserving technique. It is unclear what the prevalence is for the development of psoas-related pain after DAA THA, how this can influence patient reported outcome, and which risk factors can be identified. This retrospective case control study of prospectively recorded data evaluated 1784 patients who underwent 2087 primary DAA THA procedures between January 2017 and September 2019. Psoas tendinopathy was defined as (1) persistence of groin pain after DAA THA and was triggered by active hip flexion, (2) exclusion of other causes such as dislocation, infection, implant loosening or (occult) fractures, and (3) a positive response to an image-guided injection with xylocaine and steroid into the psoas tendon sheath. Complication-, re-operation rates, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were measured. Forty-three patients (45 hips; 2.2%) were diagnosed with psoas tendinopathy according to the above-described criteria. The mean age of patients who developed psoas tendinopathy was 50.8±11.7 years, which was significantly lower than the mean age of patients without psoas pain (62.4±12.7y; p<0.001). Patients with primary hip osteoarthritis were significantly less likely to develop psoas tendinopathy (14/1207; 1.2%) in comparison to patients with secondary hip osteoarthritis to dysplasia (18/501; 3.6%) (p<0.001) or FAI (12/305; 3.9%) (p<0.001). Patients with psoas tendinopathy had significantly lower PROM scores at 6 weeks and 1 year follow-up. Psoas tendinopathy was present in 2.2% after DAA THA. Younger age and secondary osteoarthritis due to dysplasia or FAI were risk factors for the development of psoas tendinopathy. Post-operatively, patients with psoas tendinopathy often also presented with low back pain and lateral trochanteric pain. Psoas tendinopathy had an important influence on the evolution of PROM scores

While clinically important improvements in Oxford Shoulder Scores have been defined for patients with general shoulder problems or those undergoing subacromial decompression, no threshold has been reported for classifying improvement after shoulder replacement surgery. This study aimed to establish the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) for the Oxford Shoulder Score in patients undergoing primary total shoulder replacement (TSR). Patient-reported outcomes data were sourced from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Program. These included pre- and 6-month post-operative Oxford Shoulder Scores and a rating of patient-perceived change after surgery (5-point scale ranging from ‘much worse’ to ‘much better’). Two anchor-based methods (using patient-perceived improvement as the anchor) were used to calculate the MCIC: 1) mean change method; and 2) predictive modelling, with and without adjustment for the proportion of improved patients. The analysis included 612 patients undergoing primary TSR who provided pre- and post-operative data (58% female; mean (SD) age 70 (8) years). Most patients (93%) reported improvement after surgery. The MCIC derived from the mean change method was 6.8 points (95%CI 4.7 to 8.9). Predictive modelling produced an MCIC estimate of 11.6 points (95%CI 8.9 to 15.6), which reduced to 8.7 points (95%CI 6.0 to 12.7) after adjustment for the proportion of improved patients. For patient-reported outcome measures to provide valuable information that can support clinical care, we need to understand the magnitude of change that matters to patients. Using contemporary psychometric methods, this analysis has generated MCIC estimates for the Oxford Shoulder Score. These estimates can be used by clinicians and researchers to interpret important changes in pain and function after TSR from the patient's perspective. We conclude that an increase in Oxford Shoulder Scores of at least 9 points can be considered a meaningful improvement in shoulder-related pain and function after TSR

Introduction. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has demonstrated significant benefits, including improved accuracy of component positioning compared to conventional jig-based TKA. However, previous studies have often failed to associate these findings with clinically significant improvements in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Inertial measurement units (IMUs) provide a more nuanced assessment of a patient's functional recovery after TKA. This study aims to compare outcomes of patients undergoing robotic-assisted and conventional TKA in the early postoperative period using conventional PROMS and wearable sensors. Method. 100 patients with symptomatic end-stage knee osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA were included in this study (44 robotic-assisted TKA and 56 conventional TKA). Functional outcomes were assessed using ankle-worn IMUs and PROMs. IMU- based outcomes included impact load, impact asymmetry, maximum knee flexion angle, and bone stimulus. PROMs, including Oxford Knee Score (OKS), EuroQol-Five Dimension (EQ-5D-5L), EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12) were evaluated at preoperative baseline, weeks 2 to 6 postoperatively, and at 3-month postoperative follow-up. Results. By postoperative week 6, when compared to conventional TKA, robotic-assisted TKA was associated with significant improvements in maximum knee flexion angle (118o ± 6.6 vs. 113o ± 5.4; p=0.04), symmetrical loading of limbs (82.3% vs.22.4%; p<0.01), cumulative impact load (146.6% vs 37%; p<0.01), and bone stimulus (25.1% vs 13.6%; p<0.01). Whilst there were no significant differences in PROMs (OKS, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS, and FJS-12) at any time point between the two groups, when comparing OKS subscales, significantly more robotic-assisted TKA patients achieved an ‘excellent’ outcome at 6 weeks compared to conventional (47% vs 41%, p= 0.013). Conclusions. IMU-based metrics detected an earlier return to function among patients that underwent robotic-assisted TKA compared to conventional TKA that PROMs were unable to detect within the first six weeks of surgery

Hamstring grafts have been associated with reduced strength, donor site pain and muscle strains following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR). Traditional graft fixation methods required both semitendinosus and gracilis tendons to achieve a graft of sufficient length and diameter, but newer techniques allow for shorter, broad single tendon grafts. This study seeks to compare the outcomes between Single Tendon (ST) and Dual Tendon (DT) ACLR, given there is no prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT) in the literature comparing outcomes between these options. In this ongoing RCT: (ANZ Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN126200000927921) patients were recruited and randomised into either ST or DT groups. All anaesthetic and surgical techniques were uniform aside from graft technique and tibial fixation. 13 patients were excluded at surgery as their ST graft did not achieve a minimum 8mm diameter. 70 patients (34 ST, 36DT) have been assessed at 6 months, using PROMS including IKDC2000, Lysholm and Modified Cincinnati Knee, visual analog scale for pain frequency (VAS-F) and severity (VAS-S), dedicated donor site morbidity score, KT-1000 assessment, and isokinetic strength. Graft diameters were significantly lesser in the ST group compared to the DT group (8.44mm/9.11mm mean difference [MD],-0.67mm; P<0.001). There was a significant and moderate effect in lower donor site morbidity in the ST group compared to the DT group (effect size [ES], 0.649; P = .01). No differences between groups were observed for knee laxity in the ACLR limb (P=0.362) or any of the patient-reported outcome measures (P>0.05). Between-group differences were observed for hamstrings strength LSI favouring the ST group, though these were small-to-moderate and non-significant (ES, 0.351; P = .147). ST (versus DT) harvest results in significantly less donor site morbidity and this is the first prospective RCT to determine this. There were no differences between ST and DT hamstring ACLR were observed in PROMs, knee laxity and hamstring strength. Younger female patients tend to have inadequate single tendon size to produce a graft of sufficient diameter, and alternative techniques should be considered. Further endpoints include radiological analysis, longer term donor site morbidity, revision rates and return to sport and will continue to be presented in the future

Introduction. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has gained momentum in the orthopaedic literature. The GOAL-LD (Gait Outcomes Assessment List for Limb Deformity) incorporates the framework of The WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and correlates highly with the Paediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) when applied in a limb reconstruction setting. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Australia, supported by The University of Melbourne is designing and implementing a Limb Reconstruction Registry, prospectively enrolling patients with a number of key conditions and provide a mechanism for capturing surgical data and PROMs at regular follow-up intervals. LimbDREAM (The Limb Reconstruction Registry of Experience, Aspiration and Measures) has begun recruiting participants, and this paper serves as a narrative review of our design and implementation process. Materials & Methods. After provision of a research grant, audit was conducted to examine local case mix and estimate recruitment based on conditions selected. Literature review was focussed on (i) registries in the paediatric limb reconstruction domain and (ii) use of PROMs across conditions selected. A high-level process-flow chart was constructed in order to inform governance and staffing requirements in addition to REDCap Database structure. Local as well as scalable deployment was considered. Alpha and beta testing was performed by principal and associate investigators prior to participant recruitment. Results. Audit identified 6 condition streams for inclusion: Congenital limb deficiencies, congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia, bone dysplasias, bone tumours, amputation, and complex deformity of other etiology. Literature review identified 20 PROMs used across these conditions, with limited validation studies and significant implementation heterogeneity. REDCap database design took longer than anticipated (planned 10 months, actual 18 months) before being recruitment ready, due to the complexity of ensuring data collection logic would work across highly diverse patient journeys. Initial recruitment across all streams has been promising. Email and text message reminders have proved helpful in increasing survey return rates. Conclusions. Prospective collection of PROMs as well as surgical data via a standardized dataset will provide the basis for future condition-specific research, with the ability to support nested trials. Implementation requires forethought with regard to time frames and staffing for non-automated steps as well as data integrity review. The next phase of the LimbDREAM project will be to integrate use of the Registry into our weekly Limb Reconstruction Meeting to ensure that operative plans and data are captured close to the point of care

Aims. Patient-reported outcome measures have become an important part of routine care. The aim of this study was to determine if Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures can be used to create patient subgroups for individuals seeking orthopaedic care. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of patients from Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery clinics (14 ambulatory and four hospital-based). There were two separate cohorts recruited by convenience sampling (i.e. patients were included in the analysis only if they completed PROMIS measures during a new patient visit). Cohort #1 (n = 12,141; December 2017 to December 2018,) included PROMIS short forms for eight domains (Physical Function, Pain Interference, Pain Intensity, Depression, Anxiety, Sleep Quality, Participation in Social Roles, and Fatigue) and Cohort #2 (n = 4,638; January 2019 to August 2019) included PROMIS Computer Adaptive Testing instruments for four domains (Physical Function, Pain Interference, Depression, and Sleep Quality). Cluster analysis (K-means method) empirically derived subgroups and subgroup differences in clinical and sociodemographic factors were identified with one-way analysis of variance. Results. Cluster analysis yielded four subgroups with similar clinical characteristics in Cohort #1 and #2. The subgroups were: 1) Normal Function: within normal limits in Physical Function, Pain Interference, Depression, and Sleep Quality; 2) Mild Impairment: mild deficits in Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Sleep Quality but with Depression within normal limits; 3) Impaired Function, Not Distressed: moderate deficits in Physical Function and Pain Interference, but within normal limits for Depression and Sleep Quality; and 4) Impaired Function, Distressed: moderate (Physical Function, Pain Interference, and Sleep Quality) and mild (Depression) deficits. Conclusion. These findings suggest orthopaedic patient subgroups differing in physical function, pain, and psychosocial distress can be created from as few as four different PROMIS measures. Longitudinal research is necessary to determine whether these subgroups have prognostic validity. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(7):493–502