Establishing outcome measures in early knee osteoarthritis

The classification and monitoring of individuals with early knee osteoarthritis (OA) are important considerations for the design and evaluation of therapeutic interventions and require the identification of appropriate outcome measures. Potential outcome domains to assess for early OA include patient-reported outcomes (such as pain, function and quality of life), features of clinical examination (such as joint line tenderness and crepitus), objective measures of physical function, levels of physical activity, features of imaging modalities (such as of magnetic resonance imaging) and biochemical markers in body fluid. Patient characteristics such as adiposity and biomechanics of the knee could also have relevance to the assessment of early OA. Importantly, research is needed to enable the selection of outcome measures that are feasible, reliable and validated in individuals at risk of knee OA or with early knee OA. In this Perspectives article, potential outcome measures for early symptomatic knee OA are discussed, including those measures that could be of use in clinical practice and/or the research setting

Patient-reported outcome measures for hip-related pain: A review of the available evidence and a consensus statement from the International Hip-related Pain Research Network, Zurich 2018

Hip-related pain is a well-recognised complaint among active young and middle-aged active adults. People experiencing hip-related disorders commonly report pain and reduced functional capacity, including difficulties in executing activities of daily living. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are essential to accurately examine and compare the effects of different treatments on disability in those with hip pain. In November 2018, 38 researchers and clinicians working in the field of hip-related pain met in Zurich, Switzerland for the first International Hip-related Pain Research Network meeting. Prior to the meeting, evidence summaries were developed relating to four prioritised themes. This paper discusses the available evidence and consensus process from which recommendations were made regarding the appropriate use of PROMs to assess disability in young and middle-aged active adults with hip-related pain. Our process to gain consensus had five steps: (1) systematic review of systematic reviews; (2) preliminary discussion within the working group; (3) update of the more recent high-quality systematic review and examination of the psychometric properties of PROMs according to established guidelines; (4) formulation of the recommendations considering the limitations of the PROMs derived from the examination of their quality; and (5

The 6-m timed hop test is a prognostic factor for outcomes in patients with meniscal tears treated with exercise therapy or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: a secondary, exploratory analysis of the Odense–Oslo meniscectomy versus exercise (OMEX) trial

Purpose: To identify the prognostic factors for 2-year patient-reported outcomes in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears treated with exercise therapy (ET) or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). Methods: One hundred and seven patients, with mean age 49.6 (SD 6.2) years and BMI 25.7 (SD 3.7), were included in this analysis of data from the OMEX trial (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01002794). Linear and Poisson regression models were built to explore the associations between potential prognostic factors (patient characteristics, knee function-related and disease-related factors) and 2-year patient-reported outcomes: the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales Pain, Symptoms, ADL, Sport/Rec, QoL and 5-point Global Rating of Change scales for knee pain (GRC Pain) and function (GRC Function). Analyses were performed for the whole cohort and for the two treatment groups (n = 55 and 52) with adjustments for age, sex, BMI and baseline KOOS. Results: For the whole cohort, a 1-s better baseline 6-m timed hop test result was associated with 3.1–7.1 points better 2-year scores for all KOOS subscales (95% CIs 1.1–5.2 to 4.1–10.1 points). A 1.61–2.80 s better test was associated with scores equivalent to previously calculated clinical relevant differences for each KOOS subscale. For the groups of patients treated with ET and APM, respectively, 2.09–3.60 s and 0.63–1.99 s better tests were associated with clinical relevant differences. For the whole cohort, a 1-s better test was associated with 26% (95% CI 15–38%) and 22% (95% CI 11–34%) higher possibility for better or much better GRC Pain and Function scores. Patients treated with ET had 17% (95% CI 2–33%) increased possibility for better or much better GRC Pain score, and patients treated with APM had 65% (95% CI 32–108%) and 70% (95% CI 38–109%) increased possibility for better or much better GRC Pain and Function scores. Conclusions: The 6-m timed hop test result was a significant prognostic factor for 2-year patient-reported outcomes in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears, especially in those treated with APM

The 6-m timed hop test is a prognostic factor for outcomes in patients with meniscal tears treated with exercise therapy or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: a secondary, exploratory analysis of the Odense–Oslo meniscectomy versus exercise (OMEX) trial

Purpose: To identify the prognostic factors for 2-year patient-reported outcomes in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears treated with exercise therapy (ET) or arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). Methods: One hundred and seven patients, with mean age 49.6 (SD 6.2) years and BMI 25.7 (SD 3.7), were included in this analysis of data from the OMEX trial (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01002794). Linear and Poisson regression models were built to explore the associations between potential prognostic factors (patient characteristics, knee function-related and disease-related factors) and 2-year patient-reported outcomes: the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales Pain, Symptoms, ADL, Sport/Rec, QoL and 5-point Global Rating of Change scales for knee pain (GRC Pain) and function (GRC Function). Analyses were performed for the whole cohort and for the two treatment groups (n = 55 and 52) with adjustments for age, sex, BMI and baseline KOOS. Results: For the whole cohort, a 1-s better baseline 6-m timed hop test result was associated with 3.1–7.1 points better 2-year scores for all KOOS subscales (95% CIs 1.1–5.2 to 4.1–10.1 points). A 1.61–2.80 s better test was associated with scores equivalent to previously calculated clinical relevant differences for each KOOS subscale. For the groups of patients treated with ET and APM, respectively, 2.09–3.60 s and 0.63–1.99 s better tests were associated with clinical relevant differences. For the whole cohort, a 1-s better test was associated with 26% (95% CI 15–38%) and 22% (95% CI 11–34%) higher possibility for better or much better GRC Pain and Function scores. Patients treated with ET had 17% (95% CI 2–33%) increased possibility for better or much better GRC Pain score, and patients treated with APM had 65% (95% CI 32–108%) and 70% (95% CI 38–109%) increased possibility for better or much better GRC Pain and Function scores. Conclusions: The 6-m timed hop test result was a significant prognostic factor for 2-year patient-reported outcomes in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears, especially in those treated with APM

Physical impairments in symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review of the evidence

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and accompanying pathologies are associated with pain and reduced quality of life. Physical impairments can be associated with worse symptoms and may be an important target of rehabilitation programmes in this patient group. Knowledge regarding physical impairments in individuals with symptomatic FAI is limited.In adults aged 18-50 years with symptomatic FAI, to: (1) identify physical impairments in range of motion (ROM), hip muscle function and functional tasks; (2) to compare physical impairments with healthy controls; and (3) to evaluate the effects of interventions targeting physical impairments.Systematic review.A systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The modified Downs and Black checklist was used for quality appraisal. Studies of adults aged 18-50 years with symptomatic FAI that examined ROM, hip muscle function and functional tasks were included. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) were calculated where possible or best evidence synthesis and study conclusions were presented.22 studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was varied (47-82% using Downs and Black Appraisal Criteria). Hip joint ROM did not differ in individuals with symptomatic FAI compared with control participants. Individuals with symptomatic FAI demonstrated deficits in hip muscle strength and reduced dynamic balance on 1 leg when compared with control participants. For hip joint ROM, there were no significant within-group differences between preintervention and postintervention time points. Hip muscle strength improved significantly from prehip to posthip arthroscopy in a single case series. No randomised controlled trails evaluated the effect of different types of interventions for symptomatic patients with symptomatic FAI.Individuals with symptomatic FAI demonstrate impairments in hip muscle strength and dynamic single leg balance. This information may assist therapists in providing targeted rehabilitation programmes for individuals with FAI and associated pathology. Further research is needed to determine whether symptomatic FAI affects other aspects of functional performance; and to evaluate whether targeted interventions are effective in symptomatic FAI.This information may assist therapists in providing targeted rehabilitation programmes for individuals with symptomatic FAI