Oxford joint scores are increasingly being used in evaluating outcomes following orthopaedic surgery. These patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) have been well validated, but only before and after surgical intervention. We postulated that the scores would deteriorate in the normal population with age. Members of the public accompanying patients to out-patients and the emergency department in our hospitals were asked to complete an Oxford score questionnaire having ascertained that they had no previous problem with that joint. Exclusions included other multiple joint pathologies and known connective tissue disorders. Power analysis advocated 40 subjects per decade per joint for significance at the 80% mark. 993 subjects between 20 and 80 years of age completed the forms. There were more females than males. The scores were analysed using STATA 8 software. Non-parametric tests of variance, regression analysis, and ANOVA were used. The data were analysed by decades.Background
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