title: Comprehensive assessment of clinical outcome and quality of life after total elbow arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess quantitatively the outcome and to explore the physiometric and psychometric properties of clinical, generic, and condition-specific instruments after total elbow arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine patients were assessed in a 6-19-year cross-sectional catamnesis by means of 6 widely used questionnaires, clinical examinations, and radiographic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to pain, general physical health, and all the mental health dimensions of the Short Form 36 (SF-36), the patients showed scores comparable to normative values. Elbow joint stability and satisfaction were both good. Significant functional limitation was evidenced by the low mean scores of the SF-36 physical functioning measure (48.7, normative 69.9) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) function measure (51.1, normative 89.3). The SF-36 physical component summary and the DASH correlated highly (r = 0.76) and, in factor analysis, loaded on the factor "physical unspecific." The patient and clinical modified American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons questionnaire (mASES) correlated with the Patient Related Elbow Evaluation form (r = 0.92 with the patient mASES) and loaded on "physical specific." The SF-36 mental component summary loaded on "mental quality of life."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients' self-rated health, quality of life, and clinical outcome were good and were not affected by impairment in some specific functional abilities. A questionnaire set comprising the SF-36 and the patient and clinical mASES is proposed for the comprehensive and specific assessment of outcome after elbow arthroplasty.
authors.affiliation: Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, Switzerland. fangst@datacomm.ch
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angst
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Géza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pap
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mannion
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Herren
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flury
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aeschlimann
authors.forename: Hans-Kaspar
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Schwyzer
authors.forename: Beat R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Simmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001178:Arthroplasty; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004550:Elbow / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome