Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in shoulder and elbow surgery

Abstract

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are instruments that can be used to measure a patient’s subjective health status. They are gaining increasing scientific, clinical, and health economic importance. A distinction is made between generic, joint-specific, and disease-specific PROMs. In order to avoid the risk of bias or increased variability, appropriate translations with transcultural adjustments and subsequent validation must be carried out according to defined guidelines. However, there are no corresponding translations for many common shoulder and elbow scores. The most widely used shoulder PROMs worldwide are the Constant–Murley Score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Form, and the Simple Shoulder Test. Studies on elbow pathologies most often use the Mayo Elbow Performance Score and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score. However, there is currently no scientific consensus on the use of shoulder and elbow scores.