Low Ceiling Effects of the Forgotten Joint Score Compared With Legacy Measures After Joint-Preserving Procedures: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kuhns BD, Harris WT, Domb BG
Journal: Arthroscopy, September 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.01.107
Objective
To evaluate the utility of the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) compared to traditional outcome measures in patients undergoing joint-preserving hip and knee surgeries.
Key Findings
- The FJS demonstrated low ceiling effects, maintaining sensitivity in detecting differences in patient outcomes without early score saturation.
- It showed strong internal consistency and responsiveness, outperforming legacy measures like the modified Harris Hip Score.
- The FJS reliably captures patients’ perceived joint awareness and quality of life after preservation procedures.
Conclusion
The Forgotten Joint Score is a superior tool for assessing patient-reported outcomes after joint-preserving surgeries due to its low ceiling effect and robust psychometric properties.
What Does This Mean for Providers?
- Consider incorporating the Forgotten Joint Score into your clinical practice and research to better capture subtle differences in patient recovery after hip or knee preservation.
- The FJS can provide more nuanced outcome data than traditional measures, improving assessment accuracy and patient monitoring.
- Use the FJS especially when evaluating high-functioning patients or long-term results where ceiling effects of legacy scores are problematic.