A PROSPECTIVE LONG TERM STUDY TO AUDIT SHOULDER SURGERY USING PATIENT-BASED QUESTIONNAIRES

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the use of patient-based questionnaires in the evaluation of shoulder surgery using a specifically designed database.

The patient based questionnaires used in this study were the Oxford Shoulder Score, used to assess shoulder pain and the Oxford Instability Score, used to assess shoulder instability.

Two hundred and ninety-five patients were recruited between October 2001 and October 2003. They were prospectively assessed prior to surgery and at regular intervals post operatively.

The results demonstrate a high degree of compliance with regard to completion of the questionnaires. Differences in outcome were noted between patients in different diagnostic groups. The specifically designed database allows presentation of outcome information either by individual patient (Figure1) or by procedure group.

Patient based questionnaires can be effectively used to audit shoulder practice. A customised database allows rapid and clear presentation of outcome results for both individual patients and groups of patients.