Comparison of Generic, Musculoskeletal-Specific, and Foot and Ankle–Specific Outcome Measures Over Time in Tibial Plafond Fractures

Abstract

Background: This study performed a psychometric analysis assessing and comparing the responsiveness of the relevant components of a generic (Short Form–36 [SF36]), a musculoskeletal-specific (Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment [SMFA]), and a foot and ankle–specific (Foot and Ankle Outcome Score [FAOS]) outcome score when evaluating surgically treated tibial plafond fractures over time. Methods: Fifty-one patients were followed for 12 months after their tibial plafond fracture. Responsiveness, or the ability to detect clinical change in a disease, was evaluated through the standardized response mean (SRM), the proportion meeting a minimal clinically important difference (MCID), and floor and ceiling effects. Results: The SRM of the SF36–Physical Component Summary (PCS) was significantly greater than the SMFA–dysfunction index (DI) (P