Abstract
Hypotheses:
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A subject’s response to commonly used knee assessment scores is variable, even in the presence of a normal knee.
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The subjective response to a knee score is dependent on age and cultural expectations.
Methods: A group of 150 New Zealand subjects with normal knees were given three commonly used knee assessment questionnaires. There were three age groups with 50 subjects in each group: 20 to 40, 40 to 60 and above 60 years of age. All were examined to determine that each knee was objectively normal. This group was then compared with a similar group of Canadian subjects and the results were analysed.
Results: The results showed significant differences in expectation between the age groups, with the older age group less happy to score maximum points for their ‘normal’ knee. The Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score scored the lowest followed by the Knee Society Knee Score. In the over 60 years group there was a significant difference between the New Zealand and Canadian subjects with the Canadians tending to score higher in all scores.
Conclusions: These results have implications when trying to compare results of total knee arthroplasty between different countries and age groups. This study has been expanded to include other countries in an attempt to find a mathematical formula to make future comparisons more relevant.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor A. J. Thurston. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand
