Severity of Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis Does Not Correlate With Patient-Reported Outcomes

Patient pain and clinical function are important factors in decision-making for patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA). The correlation between radiographic severity of arthritis and demographic factors with modern patient-reported outcome measures has not yet been well defined.

This cross-sectional study included 256 shoulders in 246 patients presenting with isolated GHOA. All patients obtained standard radiographs and completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Shoulder Activity Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests at the time of presentation. Radiographs were graded according to the Samilson-Prieto classification. Mean pain and functional scores were compared between the radiographic grades of osteoarthritis (OA) and demographic factors.

There were 6 shoulders rated as grade 1 OA, 41 shoulders as grade 2, 149 shoulders as grade 3a, and 65 shoulders as grade 3b. There was excellent interobserver reliability in grade of OA (κ = 0.77). There were no significant differences in patient-reported pain or any validated measure of clinical function between radiographic grades of OA (P > .05). Males reported higher function and lower pain scores than females (P = .001-.066), although only the values for the SST and PROMIS physical function test were clinically relevant.

While gender correlated with pain and function, the clinical relevance is limited. Radiographic severity of GHOA does not correlate with patient-reported pain and function, and symptoms should remain the primary determinants of surgical decision-making. Further investigation is necessary to examine whether radiographic severity of OA influences improvement following operative intervention in this population.