The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Italian version of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index in subjects with rotator cuff diseases.

Purpose We aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index into Greek (WORC-GR) and evaluate its reliability and validity in a Greek speaking population with rotator cuff (RC) disorders. Materials and methods Translation and cross-cultural adaptation process followed published guidelines. Content and face validity were assessed by 9 experts and 16 patients with RC pathologies, respectively. Internal structure, reliability, measurement error, and convergent validity (correlation with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand – DASH, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index – SPADI, and Short Form-36) of the index were evaluated in 104 participants (44.2% women, mean age ± SD: 44.9 ± 15.01 years) with RC related pain. Results The WORC-GR showed excellent item and scale content validity index (0.875–1.00 and 0.975, respectively), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha range 0.749 − 0.903) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.942, 95% CI: 0.913–0.961). Factorial validity testing revealed a 4-factor structure explaining 69.7% of the total variance. High positive correlations were found with DASH (r = 0.806) and SPADI (r = 0.852). Conclusions WORC-GR is a reliable and valid instrument to assess symptoms in patients with RC disorders. Further research on the content validity, internal structure, and responsiveness of the tool is required. Implications for rehabilitation The Greek version of WORC (WORC-GR) is a clear and comprehensible patient reported outcome measure. WORC-GR has excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and with no floor and ceiling effects. WORC-GR is a valid outcome measure for patients with rotator cuff disorders.

Influence of dominant- as compared with nondominant-side symptoms on Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff scores in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy

To examine functional outcomes and radiographic shoulder findings at mid-term after superior capsular reconstruction for irreparable rotator cuff ruptures using a porcine dermal graft. Clinical results for patients not older than 70 years of age with a chronic irreparable superior or posterosuperior tendon defect, which included either a total defect of the supraspinatus tendon or a larger defect, including both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, treated with a xenograft superior capsular reconstruction technique during a 5-year period between October 2015 and January 2020. Patients were evaluated using the Constant score and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index over a minimum 5-year follow-up. All operated shoulders had magnetic resonance imaging of the injured shoulder after 1 year and after 5 years or later with a qualitative radiographic evaluation of graft integrity. Preoperative x-rays and x-rays at mid-term were classified according to the Hamada classification. Twenty-three patients were operated on. Twenty-one patients completed a mid-term follow-up (range, 60-101 months; mean, 71 months). Mean age was 57 years at the time of surgery. No correlation was found between functional outcome scores, graft durability, and Hamada grade. There was no correlation between functional outcome and any progression of radiographic rotator cuff arthropathy. Patients with a single-tendon defect or patients with no prior rotator cuff operation had better outcomes than patients with a 2-tendon defect and patients with a prior operation. At final follow-up for 21 patients, the mean Constant score improved from an average of 26 points to 68 points (P < .001). The mean WORC index increased from a percentage average of 29% to 76% (P < .001). Twenty-one of 21 patients exceeded recognized minimal clinically important difference (MCID) levels for their Constant scores, and 20 of 21 patients exceeded MCID levels for their WORC indices. At mid-term follow-up, no further complications in terms of graft tears, infections, or revisions were registered. The clinical failure rate was 1 patient out of 21. At the time of completed mid-term follow-up, a substantial number of patients (95%) achieved the MCID for the Constant scores and WORC indices, with no deterioration in functional improvement. No correlations between functional outcomes and radiographic shoulder findings at mid-term were identified. Level IV, retrospective case series.

Comparison of computerized and paper versions of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index

Background: Despite advances in surgical techniques, the use of maximal repair to treat large or massive rotator cuff tears results in a high retear rate postoperatively. Currently, no randomized controlled trials have compared the outcomes of maximal repair with interposition dermal allograft bridging reconstruction. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that large or massive rotator cuff tendon tears reconstructed using bridging dermal allograft would have better clinical outcomes 2 years postoperatively, as measured using the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index, than would those receiving the current gold standard treatment of debridement and maximal repair alone. We also expected that patients treated via bridging reconstruction using dermal allograft would have fewer postoperative failures as assessed using postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence 1. Methods: A sample size of 30 patients (determined using a priori sample size calculation) with massive, retracted rotator cuff tears were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups: maximal repair or bridging reconstruction using dermal allograft. All patients completed questionnaires (WORC and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH]) preoperatively and postoperatively at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. The primary outcome of this study was the WORC index at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included healing rate, progression of rotator cuff arthropathy, and postoperative acromiohumeral distance in both groups. Results: Patients treated via bridging reconstruction using dermal allograft had better postoperative WORC and DASH scores (23.93 ± 24.55 and 15.77 ± 19.27, respectively) compared with patients who received maximal repair alone (53.36 ± 31.93 and 34.32 ± 23.31, respectively). We also noted increased progression to rotator cuff arthropathy in the maximal repair group with an increased retear rate when compared with the reconstruction group (87% and 21%, respectively; P < .001). The acromiohumeral distance was maintained in the reconstruction group but significantly decreased in the maximal repair group. Conclusion: Rotator cuff bridging reconstruction using a dermal allograft demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes as measured using the WORC index 2 years postoperatively. This technique also showed favorable structural healing rates and decreased progression to arthropathy compared with maximal repair. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01987973)

No Functional Difference Between Three and Six Weeks of Immobilization After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial

The pursuit of ‘best practice’, health economic planning, the increasing awareness and expectations of patients, pressure from politicians and the media, and the emergence of league tables for surgeons are some of the reasons why orthopaedic surgeons are encouraged to adopt evidence-based

BackgroundTo evaluate the translations, cross-cultural adaptation procedures and measurement properties of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), when it is adapted for different cultures.MethodsA systematic review was performed, considering different cultural adaptions of the WORC accessible through MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and/or Google Scholar. Included were prospective cohort studies that used an adapted version of the WORC to measure QoL in patients with rotator cuff disorders. All studies were evaluated according to the current guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations and measurement properties.ResultsThe search retrieved 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria. According to the recommended guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations, 8 studies performed 100% of the steps, 2 studies performed 80% of the steps and 4 studies used previously translated measures. When evaluating the studies’ psychometric properties based on the quality criteria, none of the studies reported all recommended measurement properties. All of the studies reported the measurement property of reliability, but none of the studies reported agreement. Internal consistency was fully reported by 15% of studies. Construct validity was reported by 43% of studies. Only one study reported 100% of the cross-cultural adaption guidelines and 83% of the quality criteria.ConclusionsAlthough the majority of studies demonstrated proper adaptation procedures, testing of the measurement properties were inadequate. It is recommended that the current adapted versions of the WORC undergo further testing before use in clinical practise, and researchers continue to adapt the WORC for different cultures as it proves to be an appropriate instrument for assessing rotator cuff pathology.

To compare responsiveness for the two region specific questionnaires Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) and Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI) and the disease specific Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) receiving physical therapy or subacromial corticosteroid injection. Sixty-four patients with SIS diagnosed participated in this study. All the patients were provided either physical therapy or subacromial corticosteroid injection treatment. The SDQ, the SPADI and WORC index were assessed both at the beginning and after the 3rd month of treatment. The responsiveness of the three questionnaires was compared by using the effect size (ES), the standardized responsiveness mean (SRM) and Guyatt's method. For both treatment groups there was no statistical difference observed between the pre- and post treatment measurement results versus improvement differences (p> 0.05). SDQ (ES=0.94; SRM=1.14; Guyatt value=0.95), SPADI (ES=1.55; SRM=2.14; Guyatt value=1.08), WORC index (ES=1.37; SRM=1.70; Guyatt value=1.15) were highly responsive for SIS. The SDQ, the SPADI and the WORC index are suitable for measuring changes in patients with SIS. Of these three indices, the SDQ and the SPADI are more suitable for a rapid assessment whereas the WORC index is better in cases where a more detailed assessment including the psychological impact created by the functional status needs to be assessed.

Comparison of Self-Report and Interview Administration Methods Based on the Brazilian Versions of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire in Patients with Rotator Cuff Disorders

Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a Canadian French adaptation of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index

Background:Superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) represents a new option for the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears.Purpose/Hypothesis:This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of SCR and compare them with the outcomes of partial repair (PR) of the infraspinatus tendon. The hypothesis was that there would be no significant differences between the clinical and radiologic outcome parameters of SCR and PR after a minimum follow-up of 2 years.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Of 21 patients who underwent SCR, 20 patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio according to sex, age, and tear configuration with 20 of 60 patients who had undergone PR; all patients were prospectively evaluated for a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The investigated outcome measures included the Constant score; Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) index; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; and radiologic analysis of acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and humeral head centralization (HHC).Results:There were no differences in the demographic data between the SCR and PR groups. The mean age of both groups was 62.3 years (range, 47-79 years), the mean tear configuration was Bateman 3.0 and Patte 2.8, and the mean follow-up period was 29.4 months (range, 24-53 months). At final follow-up, no significant differences were seen between the SCR and PR groups with regard to Constant score (77.1 vs 82.7), age- and sex-adapted Constant score (85.5% vs 91.4%), DASH score (15.6 vs 7.8), or WORC index (81.1 vs 90.4). No significant differences in the AHD or HHC were seen between the groups. The reoperation rate was 4.8% (1/21) in the SCR cohort and 15% (9/60) in the PR cohort.Conclusion:Both SCR and PR resulted in significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up, with no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 techniques. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether there are long-term differences in HHC and development of cuff tear arthropathy. Further investigations should also focus on the cost-effectiveness of the respective procedures.

To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC). A cross-sectional survey at the Physiotherapy Unit and Outpatient Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. To test validity, 100 patients with rotator cuff disorders were evaluated using the WORC, clinically relevant outcomes for patients with shoulder disorders (pain, range of motion, and strength), and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), University of California Los Angeles Shoulder Rating Scale (UCLA), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) self-report measures. The WORC was repeated on 50 patients on the same day (more than 1 hour later) and after a mean interval of 7 days to evaluate the test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity was tested by correlating the WORC to the other outcome measures using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively. The scores were used to assess the standard error measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC). Analysis between the WORC and clinically relevant outcomes for patients with shoulder disorders revealed weak to strong correlations; the weakest for active internal rotation (r = -0.22) and the strongest for pain during movement (r = -0.75). Strong correlations were found among the WORC and the DASH and UCLA (r = -0.86 and r = 0.80, respectively). There were moderate correlations between the WORC and SF-36 domains (0.37 to 0.69); the best correlations related to the physical domains. Reliability analysis revealed excellent results, with the intraclass correlation coefficient ranging from 0.95 to 0.99 and Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.88 to 0.97. The SEM was 5.2 and 3.0 for time 0 and after a mean interval of 7 days, respectively. The MDC was 7.1 over this mean time interval (90% confidence interval). The Brazilian version of the WORC proved to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing health-related quality of life in patients with rotator cuff diseases.

BackgroundThe smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) is the minimum benefit required in addition to that from a comparator for an intervention to be considered worthwhile by patients. We aimed to estimate the SWE for rotator cuff repair (with decompression and debridement) compared to either decompression and debridement alone or to non-surgical treatment for people with atraumatic shoulder pain.MethodsBenefit-harm trade-off study. We recruited English-speaking adults aged 45–75 years with shoulder pain of intensity ≥ 4 (on a 0–10 scale) for ≥ 6 months to our online survey through paid advertising on Facebook. Participants must have sought care in the past 6 months and could not have had recent shoulder surgery or significant recent shoulder trauma. Participants were explained three treatments: rotator cuff repair (with subacromial decompression and debridement), subacromial decompression and debridement alone, and non-surgical treatment. Participants completed the benefit-harm trade-off survey to determine the SWE of improvements in pain and function for rotator cuff repair compared to the other treatments and again after one week to assess reliability. We used univariable linear regression to estimate associations between baseline characteristics and SWE.ResultsWe recruited 56 participants. The mean ± standard deviation age was 58.4 ± 6.7 years, and 39 (70%) were female. For rotator cuff repair to be worthwhile compared to decompression and debridement alone, participants needed to see at least a median 40% (interquartile range (IQR) 20–62.5) between-group improvement in pain and function. Compared to non-surgical treatment, the SWE was a median 40% (IQR 30–60). On the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) Index, the SWE values equate to a between-group improvement of 28/100 points (533/2100 on the raw WORC score). Female sex was associated with larger SWEs for both comparisons. Reliability analyses were underpowered, 25/56 (45%) provided follow-up data. The intraclass correlation coefficient estimates ranged from 0.60 to 0.77.ConclusionsThis SWE indicates the benefit required by people with shoulder pain to consider the costs and risks of surgical rotator cuff repair worthwhile is larger than previously estimated minimum clinically important differences (13.5–28/100 on the WORC Index). This SWE may be used to inform the design or interpret the findings of trials of these comparisons.Trial registrationOpen Science Framework (osf.io/crj9p). Registered retrospectively on 11/06/2024.