Minimal Clinically Important Difference of Shoulder Outcome Measures and Diagnoses: A Systematic Review
Authors:
Dabija, D. I. and Jain, N. B.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Patient-reported outcome scales determine response to treatment. The minimal clinically important difference of these scales is a measure of responsiveness: the smallest change in a score associated with a clinically important change to the patient. This study sought to summarize the literature on minimal clinically important difference for the most commonly reported shoulder outcome scales.
DESIGN: A literature search of PubMed and EMBASE databases identified 193 citations, 27 of which met the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
RESULTS: For rotator cuff tears, a minimal clinically important difference range of 9-26.9 was reported for American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, 8 or 10 for Constant, and 282.6-588.7 for the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index. For patients who underwent arthroplasty, a minimal clinically important difference range of 6.3-20.9 was reported for American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, 5.7-9.4 for Constant, and 14.1-20.6 for the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. For proximal humeral fractures, a minimal clinically important difference range of 5.4-11.6 was reported for Constant and 8.1-13.0 for Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand.
CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of minimal clinically important difference values was reported for each patient population and instrument. In the future, a uniform outcome instrument and minimal clinically important difference will be useful to measure clinically meaningful change across practices and the spectrum of shoulder diagnoses.
Diseases of and symptoms related to the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
