title: The reliability of the Mankin score for osteoarthritis.
abstract: For the histopathological classification of the severity of osteoarthritic lesions of cartilage, the Mankin score is frequently used. A necessary constraint on the validity of this scoring system is the consistency with which cartilage lesions are classified. The intra- and interobserver agreement of the Mankin score was determined. The intra- and interobserver agreement of the 14-point Mankin score was adequate. Between observers 95% of differences were less than approximately 7 points. By a more strict definition of the elements of the Mankin score, the intraobserver differences were reduced only for some observers. The interobserver differences were only slightly reduced: between observers 95% of differences were less than approximately 6 points. We found the Mankin score to be an adequate histopathological tool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van der Sluijs
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Geesink
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bulstra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drukker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015588:Observer Variation; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012720:Severity of Illness Index