Development of a new patient-reported outcome measure to assess activities and participation in people with systemic sclerosis: the Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional scale.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) aimed at assessing people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have rarely involved the target population in the item- and domain-generation stage of the instrument construction. OBJECTIVES: To develop a new PROM assessing activities and participation in people with SSc. METHODS: A provisional International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based 65-item questionnaire previously developed from interviews of people with SSc was sent by email to all patients followed in the internal medicine department of Cochin hospital (n = 184) and enrolled in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Cohort. Items were reduced according to their metric properties. Dimensional structure of the questionnaire was assessed by principal component analysis, convergent and divergent validities by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, internal consistency by Cronbach's α, and reliability by a test-retest method using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 113 of 184 patients (61·4%) completed the provisional questionnaire. The item-reduction process resulted in a 17-item questionnaire, the Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional scale (CSF-17). Principal component analysis extracted two dimensions: 10 items related to mobility (CSF-17 section A) and seven items related to general tasks (CSF-17 section B). We observed convergent validity of the CSF-17 total score with global activity limitation, pain, depression and aesthetic burden, and divergent validity with anxiety. Cronbach's α was 0·94 for section A and 0·95 for section B. ICC (n = 25 patients) was 0·92 for the CSF-17 total score. Bland-Altman analysis did not reveal a systematic trend for the test-retest. CONCLUSIONS: The CSF-17 is a new PROM assessing activities and participation specifically in people with SSc. Its content and construct validities are very high. What is already known about this topic? In the earliest stages of construction patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) for people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) rarely involve the target population. Instruments able to capture the specific needs of people with SSc in terms of activities and participation are lacking. What does this study add? The Cochin 17-item Scleroderma Functional Scale (CSF-17) is a new PROM assessing global activities and participation specifically in people with SSc. Patients' perspectives were prioritized at all stages of construction. What are the clinical implications of this work? The CSF-17 could be used in clinical practice and research to assess the efficacy of complex multidisciplinary interventions targeting activity limitations and participation restriction in people with SSc. Linked Comment: Clark and Denton. Br J Dermatol 2020; 183:610.

A Phase 2 Randomized Study Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Myostatin Antibody LY2495655 versus Placebo in Patients Undergoing Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty relieves joint pain in patients with end stage osteoarthritis. However, postoperative muscle atrophy often results in suboptimal lower limb function. There is a need to improve functional recovery after total hip arthroplasty. OBJECTIVES: To assess safety and efficacy of LY2495655, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting myostatin, in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN: Phase 2, randomized, parallel, double-blind, 12-week clinical trial with a 12-week follow-up period. SETTING: Forty-two sites in 11 countries. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (N=400) aged ≥50 years scheduled for elective total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis within 10 ± 6 days after randomization. INTERVENTION: Placebo or LY2495655 (35 mg, 105 mg, or 315 mg) subcutaneous injections at weeks 0 (randomization date), 4, 8, and 12 with follow up until week 24. MEASUREMENTS: Primary endpoint: probability that LY2495655 increases appendicular lean mass (operated limb excluded) by at least 2.5% more than placebo at week 12, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Exploratory endpoints: muscle strength, performance based and self-reported measures of physical function, and whole body composition over time. RESULTS: Participants: 59% women, aged 69 ± 8 years, BMI 29 ± 5 kg/m2. Groups were comparable at baseline. The primary objective was not reached as LY2495655 changes in lean mass did not meet the superiority threshold at week 12. However, LY2495655 105 and LY2495655 315 experienced progressive increases in appendicular lean mass that were statistically significant versus placebo at weeks 8 and 16. Whole body fat mass decreased in LY2495655 315 versus placebo at weeks 8 and 16. No meaningful differences were detected between groups in other exploratory endpoints. Injection site reactions occurred more often in LY2495655 patients than in placebo patients. No other safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Dose-dependent increases in appendicular lean body mass and decreases in fat mass were observed, although this study did not achieve the threshold of its primary objective.

French adaptation and validation of the Osteoarthritis Quality of Life scale.

OBJECTIVE: The Osteoarthritis Quality of Life scale (OAQoL) is an osteoarthritis-specific measure developed in the United Kingdom by a needs-based approach. This study describes the adaptation and validation of this English scale into French. METHODS: The OAQoL was translated into French by a dual-panel technique followed by cognitive debriefing interviews. Internal consistency was assessed by the Cronbach α. Construct validity was tested by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and by convergent and divergent correlations with other patient-reported outcome measures by the Spearman rho (ρ). Reliability was explored by Spearman rho as well as the Bland and Altman method for the total score and Cohen's kappa for each item score. RESULTS: Cognitive debriefing revealed the French OAQoL to be clear, relevant and comprehensive. The Cronbach α was 0.91. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 4 groups of items. After eliminating 4 items, confirmatory factor analysis of the remaining 18 items confirmed higher intra-factor than inter-factor correlations. The expected convergent and divergent correlations were observed. Test-retest reliability was good (ρ 0.93) and was confirmed by Bland and Altman analysis; most items (12/18) had kappa values from 0.61 to 0.80. CONCLUSION: The French OAQoL is an easy-to-use 18-item questionnaire with good content and construct validity to assess the impact of osteoarthritis on quality of life for French-speaking patients.

Checklists to manage pain induced by exercise and mobilization (PIEM) during physical therapy programs: PIEM checklists for practitioners and physiotherapists.

OBJECTIVES: Identify key informational and educational items ("messages") to provide to physicians (general practitioners and specialists) and physiotherapists for the management of pain induced by exercise and mobilization (PIEM). Develop checklists to improve this management in daily practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Delphi method for consensus-building was used to identify informational and educational messages for health professionals who deal with PIEM. Informed by the results of an extensive qualitative study, a panel of experts from 5 medical and paramedical disciplines concerned with PIEM and a representative of a patients' association were interviewed individually and iteratively in order to obtain a single, convergent opinion. RESULTS: Delphi consultation helped to determine 9 areas corresponding to 54 key messages of information and education for doctors and physiotherapists who deal with PIEM. These messages relate to: defining, characterizing, identifying, and evaluating PIEM; identifying factors that may cause or increase this pain; informing the patient in order to avoid misinterpretation of PIEM; preventing and treating PIEM; and dealing with it during physical therapy sessions. The method also enabled us to develop 2 synthetic instruments (checklists) - 1 for physicians and 1 for physiotherapists - to help with the management of this pain. CONCLUSION: Consulting a panel of experts comprising different categories of actors dealing with PIEM on the basis of a thorough qualitative diagnosis in order to identify messages for a training program makes it possible to harmonize programs with the expectations of patients and the problems encountered by professionals. The formulation of this program and the institutionalization of two checklists should enable health professionals to identify, qualify, and deal more effectively with PIEM.

Effect of hypoxia/reoxygenation on the cytokine-induced production of nitric oxide and superoxide anion in cultured osteoarthritic synoviocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) is an important feature in the osteoarthritis (OA) physiopathology. Nitric oxide (NO) is a significant proinflammatory mediator in the inflamed synovium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of H/R on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity and expression in OA synoviocytes. In addition we studied the relationship between nitrosative stress and NADPH oxidase (NOX) in such conditions. METHODS: Human cultured synoviocytes from OA patients were treated for 24 h with interleukin 1-ß (IL-1ß), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) or neither; for the last 6 h, they were submitted to either normoxia or three periods of 1-h of hypoxia followed by 1-h of reoxygenation. ·NO metabolism (iNOS expression, nitrite and peroxynitrite measurements) was investigated. Furthermore, superoxide anion O2(·-) production, NOX subunit expression and nitrosylation were also assessed. RESULTS: iNOS expression and nitrite (but not peroxynitrite) production were ~0.20 to ~0.12 nmol min(-1) mg proteins(-1) (P < 0.05), while NOXs' subunit expression and p47-phox phosphorylation were increased. NOXs and p47-phox were dramatically nitrosylated under H/R conditions (P < 0.05 vs normoxia). Using NOS inhibitors under H/R conditions, p47-phox nitrosylation was prevented and O2(·-) production was restored at normoxic levels (0.21 nmol min(-1) mg of proteins(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for an up-regulation of iNOS activity in OA synoviocytes under H/R conditions, associated to a down-regulation of NOX activity through nitrosylation. These findings highlight the importance of radical production to OA pathogenesis, and appraise the metabolic modifications of synovial cells under hypoxia.

Vertebral subchondral bone.

Vertebral subchondral bone, also known as bony or osseous endplate, is an important anatomical part of the spine, including cartilage endplate and intervertebral disk. Vertebral subchondral bone plays a critical role in spinal function and maintenance of intervertebral disk health. Recent data suggest that some vertebral subchondral bone changes, detected by MRI and described as Modic changes, may be specifically associated with degenerative disk disease and chronic low back pain, and that these changes may be related to local inflammation. Thus, Modic changes may be a useful imaging biomarker to identify particular sub-groups of patients with chronic low back pain for whom a link between pathoanatomy, namely vertebral subchondral bone alterations, and pain can be established. Such identification may give rise to develop more specific therapies targeting, for example, inflammatory changes involving vertebral subchondral bone in Modic change-associated non-specific chronic low back pain.

Disabling chronic low back pain with Modic type 1 MRI signal: acute reduction in pain with intradiscal corticotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the current study was to compare short- and long-term effect on chronic low back pain of intradiscal injection of methylprednisolone with or without presence of Modic type 1 MRI changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical charts of patients receiving intradiscal injection of methylprednisolone from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, 24h after injection and at follow-up (12-14 months). Patients were studied in three groups: Modic I-a, if patients had Modic type 1 changes with no previous surgery or nucleolysis (n=30); Modic I-b, if patients had Modic type 1 changes at the level of previous surgery or nucleolysis (n=37); Control, if patients had no Modic type 1 changes (n=30). RESULTS: Twenty-four hours after methylprednisolone injection, higher proportion of patients with self-assessed improvement was observed in Modic I-a (90%) and Modic I-b (71%) than in Control (30%). Low back pain decreased in both Modic groups. Low back pain did not vary from baseline in controls. No effect was detected in three groups, neither for radiating pain 24h after injection, nor for any outcome parameters at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that patients with disabling chronic low back pain and Modic type 1 MRI changes have specific acute response to intradiscal injection of methylprednisolone. Clinical studies are however necessary to further investigate the effectiveness and safety of such injections.

Impact of systemic sclerosis on occupational and professional activity with attention to patients with digital ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) and digital ulcers (DUs) on daily living and professional activities. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 189 SSc patients for employment status and disability during meetings of the French SSc patient association (n=86, 45.5%) or during hospitalization (n=103, 54.5%). RESULTS: Seventy-eight (41.2%) patients had diffuse SSc. The mean±SD age was 54±13 years, and the mean±SD disease duration was 9.3±8.4 years at the time of evaluation. Sixty (31.7%) patients had at least one DU. Assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (mean±SD 1.12±0.79 versus 1.39±0.84; P=0.001), the Cochin Hand Function Scale (mean±SD 20.2±18.3 versus 27.8±19.1; P<0.0001), and the Hospital Anxiety Scale (mean±SD 9.9±5 versus 8.5±4.2; P=0.04), global disability, hand disability, and anxiety, respectively, were significantly higher in patients with DUs than in others. Most patients reported a limitation in daily activities related to SSc, as assessed by a daily activity limitation scale (mean±SD 4.4±2.9) and an increased need for help in the home. Patients reported needing mean±SD 4±13.5 hours per month of paid household help related to SSc and mean±SD 1.5±10 hours per month related to DUs, with significant differences between patients with or without DUs (P=0.004). Among the 113 patients in the workforce, 67 (59.3%) were employed, 42 (37.2%) were employed full time, 36 (31.8%) received full disability pension, and 27 (23.9%) were on sick leave, with no difference between patients with or without DUs. CONCLUSION: SSc has a significant impact on activities of daily living and work disability. The need for external home help and disability are increased for those patients with DUs.

Anterior superior iliac spine avulsion in a young soccer player.

Avulsion fractures of the anterior superior iliac spine are rare. They usually occur in teenagers during sport activities. Cases concerning adults are very uncommon. We report here the case of a 23-year-old man who was admitted for recent pain of the left hip that worsened while kicking a ball in a soccer match eight days earlier. The examination found pain when moving the left hip in extension. Radiographs showed an avulsion fracture of the left anterior superior iliac spine, which was confirmed by computer tomography. The treatment was conservative consisting in rest and non-weight bearing with releasing of pain a few weeks later.

Impact of self-care programs for lower limb osteoarthritis and influence of patients' beliefs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess therapeutic education program impact for lower limb osteoarthritis (OA) at both the medical and surgical stage. Factors limiting efficiency and implementation of these programs such as patients' beliefs will be highlighted. METHOD: A non systematic literature review on Medline and Cochrane Library databases from 1966 to 2009 using following key words "knee/hip osteoarthritis", "self-care/therapeutic education", "total hip/knee replacement/arthroplasty", "patients' beliefs" is conducted. Clinical trials and randomized clinical trials, as well as literature reviews and practice guidelines, published in English and French will be analysed. RESULTS: Therapeutic education is part of the non-pharmacological management of chronic illnesses such as OA. The aim of education at an early stage of OA is to change patients' lifestyle, especially the regular practice of physical activity and weight reduction. Fears and avoidance assessment is necessary before patients' education process. When a surgical option is considered, the aim of education is to hasten patient recovery, improve autonomy after surgery, facilitate the return home and reduce the rate of transfer to a rehabilitation unit. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of therapeutic education could be optimised for the management of OA with use of standardized rules and methods to deliver information and education. One way to improve therapeutic education in the management of OA could be to propose dedicated continuing medical education programs supported by specific economic sources for health care professionals.

Impact of digital ulcers on disability and health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of digital ulcers (DUs) on disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Two hundred and thirteen patients with SSc were evaluated at four annual meetings of a patient society between 2004 and 2007 (n = 177) or during hospital stay (n = 36). HRQoL was assessed by the SF-36, global disability by the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), hand disability by the Cochin Hand Function Scale (CHFS) and global hand and wrist mobility by the Kapandji index. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients (31.4%) had at least one DU at the time of evaluation. Patients with DUs showed significantly more pitting scars (p<0.001) and calcinosis (p<0.0001) than others. Patients with DU had significantly greater HAQ (mean (SD) 1.218 (0.723) vs 0.930 (0.717), p = 0.008), CHFS (mean (SD) 27.38 (20.68) vs 16.73 (18.19), p<0.0001) and aesthetic prejudice (mean (SD) 6.1 (2.2) vs 3.9 (2.5), p<0.0001) scores than others. Hand and wrist mobility were significantly diminished in patients with DU (mean (SD) Kapandji score 75.3 (22.8) vs 81.7 (19.2), p<0.0001). The presence of a DU did not significantly alter the physical component but influenced the mental component (mean (SD) 43.38 (12.53) vs 39.58 (9.54), p = 0.026) of the SF36. CONCLUSION: Patients with SSc with DUs have reduced wrist and hand mobility, increased global and hand disabilities and decreased mental component of HRQoL.

Translation and French cultural adaptation of a decision making tool for patients orientation after total hip or knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To translate and culturally adapt to the French Health care system a decision making tool for patient orientation after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) or Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), to inpatient rehabilitation or a direct return home. METHOD: A translation/back translation procedure, with cultural and linguistic adaptation, a validated methodology for self-report measures and patients' information leaflets was used. RESULTS: The standardized translation/back-translation procedure enabled the creation of a French Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT), which is suitable to the French Health care system. The F-RAPT is a decision making tool that helps to better define patients' preoperative needs, and expectations concerning rehabilitation after lower limb arthroplasty, and to deliver a patient tailored preoperative education. It could also help to improve preoperative preparations by anticipating postoperative community support and carers' needs. CONCLUSION: The F-RAPT is a validated decision making tool for orientating patients after THA or TKA to either inpatient rehabilitation or a direct return home. The utilisation of the RAPT could permit better screening of those patients for whom it is appropriate to go back home directly after the operation, and give the opportunity for the most complex patients to be transferred to inpatient rehabilitation services. Complementary studies are needed to validate the F-RAPT from a daily practice perspective.

Comparison of the repercussions of cLBP in four French-speaking countries.

INTRODUCTION: Sociocultural factors may influence the impact of chronic low back pain (cLBP) on patients. The goal of this study was to compare pain and disability levels, and psychobehavioural parameters in four French-speaking countries in patients with cLBP. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-eight patients were included: 83 in France, 36 in Morocco, 75 in the Ivory Coast and 84 in Tunisia. Demographic data were collected; pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), disability with the Quebec scale, psychobehavioural factors by the hospital anxiety depression scale (HAD), the fear and avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) and the coping strategy questionnaire (CSQ). A Student t-test was used to compare means. Anova (covariance) was used to test for a "Country Effect", i.e. the incidence of country on outcomes. OUTCOMES: There was no difference in disability levels between countries. A "country effect" was found (p<0.001) for pain (F=2.707), anxiety (F=3.467), depression (F=5.137), fear and avoidance beliefs regarding professional activity (F=1.974) and physical activity (F=5.076), strategy of distraction, dramatization, efforts to ignore pain, prayer, seeking social support and reinterpretation (p<0.01). Pain level was higher in Morocco (p<0.05); anxiety, depression, fear and avoidance beliefs about physical activities were higher in Tunisia (p<0.05) and fear and avoidance beliefs about professional activities were higher in the Ivory Coast (p<0.01). Among the coping strategies used, distraction, dramatization, prayer and search for social support were used more in the Ivory Coast; reinterpretation in Tunisia; seeking social support was less common in France. CONCLUSION: In this population of patients with cLBP, despite similar disability levels across the four French-speaking countries, there were considerable variations in pain level and psychobehavioural repercussions.

Active or passive pain coping strategies in hip and knee osteoarthritis? Results of a national survey of 4,719 patients in a primary care setting.

OBJECTIVE: To study pain coping strategies in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to assess the psychometric qualities of the French version of the Pain Coping Inventory (PCI). METHODS: We conducted a national, cross-sectional survey in a primary care setting in France. A total of 1,811 general practitioners included 5,324 patients with hip and knee OA who completed several questionnaires, including the PCI, which assesses ability to cope with pain. RESULTS: The records of 4,719 (86.4%) patients were analyzed (knee 2,781; hip 1,553; hip and knee 385). Supporting the structure of the original questionnaire, we found that the 33 PCI questionnaire items could be grouped into 3 domains defining active coping strategies and 3 defining passive coping strategies. Acceptable convergent validity was found for the PCI (Cronbach's alpha coefficient for each domain >0.68). Coping strategy scores were significantly higher in patients with both knee and hip involvement (mean +/- SD 2.3 +/- 0.4) than for patients with OA at 1 site (mean +/- SD 2.1 +/- 0.4), and in women compared with men (P < 0.001). The use of passive pain coping strategies increased with OA duration, and was greater in older and overweight patients, in patients with no current physical activity or major impairment, in retired and nonworking patients, and in patients who were not married, and to a lesser extent in patients with higher pain intensity. Compared with previous data, patients with OA demonstrated lower active and higher passive strategies than patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic painful conditions. CONCLUSION: The PCI has good structural validity and is highly suitable for analyzing active and passive pain coping strategies in OA. In OA, active and passive coping strategies differ significantly as a function of age, body mass index, OA involvement, professional and marital status, sport activities, and OA duration, with pain intensity having a weaker effect.

[Chronic low back pain and functional restoring program: applicability of the Patient Acceptable Symptom State]. / Lombalgie chronique et réentraînement à l'effort : application de la notion de niveau de douleur cliniquement acceptable.

OBJECTIVES: To search for predictors of reduced low back pain under the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) at the end of a functional restoration program (FRP) in chronic low back pain, and then to compare the effectiveness of FRP depending on the rate of people returning to work, the acceptability threshold of pain has been reached or not at the end of the program. METHOD: Open prospective study on 303 patients with chronic low back pain included in a FRP. An assessment of the deficiencies (finger-tip-to-floor (cm) and Schöber tests (cm), VO2max (l/min), Shirado and Sorensen tests (seconds), lumbar and radicular VAS (0-100), the functional disability (Wadell and Quebec scales (0-9 and 0-100), and the psychological status (Beck and Hamilton scale (0-35 and 0-30), HAD scale (0-21), FABQ (0-42 and 0-24)) was conducted at the beginning and end of the program. Data on the work were also collected (arduous physical labor, work-related accident or not, sick leaves or not and length, return to work at the end of the program). The variables associated with a PASS at the end of the FRP and a correlation between the level of pain and the return to work were sought. RESULTS: The parameters were significantly improved: finger-tip-to-floor test (-17.5+/-16.2), Schöber test (-0.5+/-5.4), lumbar VAS(-6.3+/-23.6), VO2max (0.14+/-0.4), Wadell (-1.3+/-2.4), Quebec (-10.5+/-17), Beck D (-3.1+/-4.5), Beck A (-2.5+/-4.3), HAD D (-2.4+/-4.7), HAD A (-1.3+/-3.8) et FABQ1 (-5.7+/-11.6), FABQ2 (-3.9+/-9.6) scores, endurance of the flexor (35+/-63.83) and extensor (44.8+/-112) spine. Patients reaching the PASS for pain level return significantly more to work (73% versus 52%). Five parameters indicative of a reduction of back pain under the PASS were identified : lumbar VAS and endurance of the flexor spine at the beginning, changes in finger-tip-to-floor test, radicular VAS and Beck score for anxiety. CONCLUSION: The PASS appears to be a relevant concept associated with a successful return to work for patients with chronic low back pain and severe disability after a program of FRP.

Change of impairment, disability and patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty in secondary care practice.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the evolution of impairment and disability after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis and to seek an association with patient satisfaction with surgery. METHOD: Consecutives patients (n=45, 18 women) with osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA in two secondary care inpatient clinics were prospectively assessed before one month and six months after surgery. Disability was assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; range 0-900) and the Lequesne Index (range 1-24). Patients' perceived handicap was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS, range 1-100). At one month and six months postoperatively, kinetic strength of quadriceps and hamstrings was obtained by isokinetics measures and patient satisfaction on a VAS (range 1-100). RESULTS: Mean age was 71.7+/-7.0 years; mean duration of symptoms was 38.3+/-33.4 months. Patient satisfaction was 83.9+/-17.7 and 83.1+/-22.4 at one month and six months after TKA, respectively. At one month, significant improvements were observed over baseline for pain (-30.73+/-32.2; p<0.01), physical function (Lequesne Index -2.28+/-3.6, p<0.01; and WOMAC score, -82.60+/-148.5, p<0.01), and patient perceived handicap (-21.84+/-29.6, p<0.01). A significant decrease in global knee range of motion was also observed. At six months, significant improvement was observed for pain (-47.96+/-26.8; p<0.01), physical function (Lequesne Index, -5.08+/-3.66, p<0.01; and WOMAC score, -157.04+/-153.2, p<0.01) and patient perceived handicap (-39.60+/-24.1; p<0.01). All isokinetics measures for quadriceps and hamstring were significantly improved between one month and six months after surgery. At one month and six months, the correlation between patient satisfaction and change in impairment, disability and patient perceived handicap was weak. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Impairment, disability and patient perceived handicap improved significantly after TKA for osteoarthritis. However, these improvements were poorly correlated with patient overall satisfaction with surgery.

Disability and quality of life of patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis in the primary care setting and factors associated with general practitioners' indication for prosthetic replacement within 1 year.

OBJECTIVE: To assess disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with knee or hip OA in primary care and to determine factors associated with GPs' opinion that their patients will need prosthetic replacement within 1 year after the consultation. DESIGN: A cross-sectional national survey. SETTING: Primary care in France. PARTICIPANTS: 1471 GPs and 4183 patients with hip or knee OA. MEASURES: Pain on an 11-point numeric scale (0-10), disability on the Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) (1-100) and Lequesne index (0-24), and quality of life on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (MOS SF-36; 0-100). RESULTS: We analyzed records of 4121 patients (2540 knee, 1581 hip OA). Patients with knee or hip OA exhibited high and similar levels of pain (5.2+/-2.1 and 5.3+/-2.3) and disability (Lequesne score: 12.0+/-4.2 and 11.8+/-4.3; WOMAC score: 45.7+/-19.3 and 45.2+/-17.3) The decrease in HRQoL was similar for patients with either location of the disease. GPs more often considered that their patients with hip OA would need prosthetic replacement within 1 year (28.1%) than those with knee OA (15.8%). Most factors associated with GPs' opinion were identified for both locations of disease and were related to disability and pain levels. CONCLUSIONS: In the primary care setting, patients with knee or hip OA have similar, high disability levels and substantially low HRQoL. Patients' disability seems to play a central role in GPs' opinion of the need for their patients with either type of OA to undergo prosthetic replacement within 1 year.