A validation of the Swedish version of the WORC index in the assessment of patients treated by surgery for subacromial disease including rotator cuff syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) is a widely used instrument to measure quality of life in patients with subacromial pain or rotator cuff syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the WORC for assessment of subacromial disease including rotator cuff syndrome treated by surgery. METHODS: A total of 65 patients were included in this study, mean age 60 years (range 36-82), 42% women, all were candidates for surgery for subacromial pain conditions at two orthopedic units during 2004-2006 and 2011-2012. Calculations of the validity of Pearson's correlation coefficient, floor and ceiling effects, reliability and responsiveness have formed the basis of assessment of the WORC index properties. WORC has been tested against Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder (WOOS), Oxford Shoulder Score and EQ-5D. An additional 49 patients, mean age 64 years (range 36-74) 20% of whom were women, were analyzed in a WORC test-retest with ICC and also correlated to Constant-Murley Score. RESULTS: The validity analysis of WORC showed high correlations with both the specific and the generic health measurement instrument. The reliability calculations of the WORC resulted in ICC = 0.97 and Cronbach's alpha = 0.97. Responsiveness was also excellent for WORC with Effect size = 1.35 and Standardized Response mean = 1.01. We found that the WORC showed a strong correlation with the WOOS (0.97) and the Constant-Murley Score (0.85). A good correlation was found with the Oxford Shoulder Score (0.74) and the EQ-5D (0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The Swedish version of WORC can be considered reliable, valid and responsive for use as an assessment of outcome and a health measurement instrument for patients treated by surgery for subacromial disease including rotator cuff syndrome.

Validity and sensitivity to change of the Patient Specific Functional Scale used during rehabilitation following proximal humeral fracture.

PURPOSE: To describe content validity, concurrent validity, sensitivity to change, internal consistency and the outcome distribution of the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) in patients with proximal humeral fracture. METHOD: Fifty-three patients with proximal humeral fracture treated conservatively or surgically with plate and screw or intramedullary nail were recruited 6 weeks (±1 week) post-trauma or post-surgery. The following assessments were used: the PSFS, patient global score, shoulder function assessment, grip strength and Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the shoulder Index (WOOS), before start of (n = 53) and after (n = 22) 2-3 months of group rehabilitation. RESULTS: In total, 96% of the activities stated in the PSFS was classified in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health activity component and 62% were found in the WOOS. Correlations between measures were low. The PSFS was highly sensitive to change to a period of group rehabilitation. All questions of the PSFS contributed to the total score. Both floor and ceiling effects could be noted. CONCLUSION: The PSFS shows satisfying measurement properties and may be a useful complement in the evaluation of individual changes during a period of rehabilitation after proximal humeral fracture. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The PSFS assesses on activity level in patients with proximal humeral fracture. The PSFS is sensitive to change for group rehabilitation after humeral fracture. The PSFS can be useful for goal-setting, motivating and individually tailoring rehabilitation activities. The PSFS should be used in addition to specific measures of body functions and general health.

Bony Bankart is a positive predictive factor after primary shoulder dislocation.

It would be a great advantage if it were possible to categorise the patients with first time dislocations to an initial treatment with the most beneficial outcome. MRI could be a useful method for finding lesions after shoulder dislocation. Fifty-eight patients with traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation were treated by closed reduction and were examined by MRI after a maximum of 2 weeks. The hemarthrosis or effusion present in the joint after the primary dislocation could be used as a contrast for arthrography to identify the lesions present on MRI. At follow-up more than 8 years later, the MRI findings were compared to the shoulder function, shoulder stability, Rowe score and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). Besides the age of the patient being above 30, the MRI findings analysed showed that an isolated fracture of the major tubercle, as well as a bony Bankart lesion are prognostic factors for a good functional result and a stable shoulder after a primary dislocation. The glenoid rim fracture was only detected on plain radiographs in 6 out of 10 findings on MRI. MRI findings of a gleniod rim fracture, equal to a bony Bankart lesion, were found to be a prognostic factor for stability and a good functional outcome.

The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI): validity, reliability, and responsiveness retested with a Swedish translation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The WOSI score questionnaire is a tool designed for self-assessment of shoulder function for patients with instability problems. We made a translation into Swedish and retested the score by analyzing the psychometric properties validity, reliability, and responsiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 3 patient materials were used for the assessment: (A) a follow-up on a group of 32 patients more than 8 years after having primary posttraumatic shoulder dislocation. Evaluation of Pearson's correlation coefficient between WOSI and Rowe score and for test-retest reliability was made; (B) 22 patients, treated with a surgical stabilization of the shoulder at our department, were evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficient between WOSI and EQ-5D, and between WOSI and a VAS-scale of general shoulder function. Also, Cronbach's alpha, effect size, and floor, and ceiling effects were analyzed; (C) 45 students with healthy shoulders (reference group) had their WOSI score determined. RESULTS: The construct validity (Pearson's correlation coefficient) was adequate (0.59) between the WOSI score and the Rowe score. The agreement with an ICC value (test-retest) for the WOSI score was excellent (0.94). Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency) was satisfactory, with 0.89 preoperatively and 0.95 postoperatively. All 22 patients in group B reported improvement in the WOSI score (mean 29%). Responsiveness was excellent, with an effect size of 1.67 for the WOSI score. There were no floor or ceiling effects for the Swedish WOSI score. The mean WOSI score from group C with 45 normal healthy shoulders was 96%, with no floor but high ceiling effects. INTERPRETATION: WOSI score does not require an examination of the patient and can be administered by mail. The high ICC and sensitivity makes it able to monitor an individual patient's progress. At this retest, the WOSI score has good validity, a high degree of reliability, and a high degree of responsiveness, all at the same level as in the original publication. We recommend the WOSI when evaluating patients with instability problems.