Outcome

Abstract

A number of outcome measures are available to assess the impact of sports injuries of the foot and ankle. The following key items are essential when selecting the best available outcome measures: History taking remains the most important tool and is essential to assess the symptoms, concerns, medical-, social-, and psychological history and to individualize treatment. Validity, reliability, and repeatability are important psychometric properties to assess whether an outcome measure is suitable for its intended purpose. Different tools are available to objectify findings during physical examination (goniometers, dynamometers). To obtain an evaluation of the patient which is as complete as possible, it is recommended to combine a generic health measure, a foot- or ankle-specific health measure, and, if available, a disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). Monitoring of complications and recurrence rate of the particular injury is essential to adequately assess safety and effectiveness of any surgical technique.