Trends in shoulder surgery patient-reported outcome measures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Clinical Research
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are integral to modern orthopedic surgery.
• The expanding use of PROMs in clinical practice and research necessitates understanding current trends.
• The ultimate direction and standardization of PROM utilization remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify trends in the utilization of PROMs within major upper limb orthopedic publications.
• To analyze the prevalence, diversity, and geographical variations in PROM usage over a defined period.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective systematic review of articles published between January 2013 and January 2020.
• Inclusion criteria focused on 6 high-impact upper limb orthopedic journals, specifically articles on shoulder arthroplasty, instability, rotator cuff surgery, and PROM use.
• Data extraction from PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases.

Main Results:

• A 102% increase in articles reporting PROMs was observed, from 57 in 2013 to 115 in 2019.
• A total of 1593 PROM usages were recorded across 607 eligible articles, employing 63 different scoring systems.
• Geographical variations in PROM preference were noted, with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score dominant in North America and Asia, and the Constant-Murley Score in Europe.

Conclusions:

• The use of PROMs in upper limb surgery is increasing in both prevalence and diversity.
• Significant geographical variations exist in PROM selection and application.
• A consensus on a single best PROM may not be necessary; instead, selecting ideal PROMs for specific research questions is recommended.