A tool for measuring functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common procedure to alleviate pain and improve function.
• Measuring functional recovery after THA is crucial for patient management and research.
• Existing functional scales may lack comprehensive assessment of post-operative milestones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the functional milestone scale (FMS) for assessing functional progression post-THA.
• To validate the FMS against established standards for scale construction.
• To demonstrate the clinical utility and research applicability of the FMS.

Main Methods:

• The FMS was developed to measure functional milestones in patients undergoing THA.
• Inter-observer reliability was assessed using the kappa coefficient (k) on 30 patients (221 observation pairs).
• Specific functional tasks evaluated included transfers, walker use, crutch ambulation, and stair negotiation.

Main Results:

• The kappa coefficient (k) for inter-observer reliability ranged from 0.82 to 0.91.
• Therapist agreement was found to be almost perfect, exceeding Feinstein's criteria.
• These results indicate substantial reliability for the FMS.

Conclusions:

• The functional milestone scale (FMS) demonstrates substantial inter-observer reliability and moderate to substantial validity.
• The FMS is a clinically applicable tool for managing patients post-THA.
• The FMS serves as a valuable instrument for both clinical management and research purposes in THA recovery.