New Computerized Elbow and Forearm Clinical Scores.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Clinical Assessment
• Digital Health

Background:

• Existing elbow clinical scores are limited in comparability and lack computerization.
• There is a need for a comprehensive forearm clinical score, particularly for complex injuries like those of Essex-Lopresti.
• Current assessment tools do not adequately address all anatomical components of forearm disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce novel, computerized clinical scores for both elbow and forearm conditions.
• To provide a standardized and comparable assessment tool for a wide range of upper extremity disorders.
• To develop a user-friendly and adaptable scoring system for clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• The new scores incorporate four key clinical criteria: pain, function, active range of motion, and muscle strength.
• Each criterion is evaluated using a 5-grade numerical system.
• The weighting of each criterion is balanced to equally represent both patient and physician perspectives.

Main Results:

• The computerized scores automatically generate diamond-shaped graphs and tables.
• These outputs are directly exportable to presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint) for easy demonstration and comparison.
• The system facilitates objective and reproducible clinical data visualization.

Conclusions:

• The developed scores are user-friendly, updatable, and designed for any osteoarticular elbow or forearm disorder.
• They are based on established clinical criteria (pain, function, motion, strength) presented in a graded format.
• These scores offer a flexible and potentially modifiable framework for future clinical assessments.