Ankle fractures: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures and their measurement properties

Predictive factors to return to sport after surgical management of ankle fractures

Achieving Return to Sport (RTS) is crucial in managing ankle fractures for athletes. This study aimed to identify RTS factors post-surgical fixation of ankle fractures. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 93 active patients with surgically treated displaced or unstable ankle fractures from January 2020 to January 2021. The median follow-up was 2.12 years. Clinical, functional, and radiographic aspects were evaluated. Among the athletes, 82.8 % resumed sports post-surgery, with 26.9 % returning within 3 months and 75.3 % at 1 year. At 1 year, 40.9 % regained their pre-injury activity level. There was a significant association between RTS and AO/OTA fracture subtype (p = 0.038). Unimalleolar fractures had the best outcomes, with 100 % achieving RTS in a median of 4 months. Bimalleolar fractures had 80.77 % RTS in 6 months, and trimalleolar fractures had 65.22 % RTS in 8 months. AO/OTA subtypes B and C predicted lower RTS to pre-injury levels, with delayed recovery for bimalleolar and trimalleolar fractures. These findings underscore the impact of fracture severity on RTS, with more complex fractures leading to poorer and delayed recovery outcomes.

Weight-Bearing Versus Non-Weight-Bearing After Ankle Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcome

BACKGROUND

Ankle fractures commonly affect mobility and quality of life. Although unstable fractures typically require surgery, post-treatment protocols vary widely, including both surgical and conservative approaches. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of early weight-bearing after ankle fracture treatment on functional outcomes and quality of life.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS strategy, we performed a meta-analysis across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library). Analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, calculating the mean and standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Eleven studies (n = 939) showed favorable outcomes with weight-bearing. Significant functional improvements were observed at 6 weeks (MD 7.88, 95% CI 3.14-12.61), 3 months (MD 5.79, 95% CI 4.41-7.17), and 12 months (MD 4.74, 95% CI 3.01-6.46). RAND scores favored the weight-bearing group at 6 weeks (SMD 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.70) and 12 months (SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.07-0.55), with no significant differences at 3 months (SMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.10-0.46).

CONCLUSION

The outcomes obtained indicated statistically significant differences in favor of the early weight-bearing group regarding ankle function and quality of life.

Validity and reliability of the Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) in one-year postoperative ankle fracture patients-a validation study

BACKGROUND

Ankle fracture patients are a heterogenous group with differences in age, sex, fracture morphology, and treatment provided. With the increased focus on patient-centered treatment, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly adopted by clinicians to facilitate best clinical practice. The Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) has demonstrated good measurement properties when used in patients with foot or ankle disease. The PROM has three domains: (1) Pain; (2) Walking/Standing; and (3) Social Interaction. One study found sufficient content validity for the Pain and Walking/Standing domains when used in the evaluation of ankle fracture patients. Another validation study demonstrated acceptable structural validity and reliability for the MOXFQ in ankle fracture patients 12 weeks after injury. The aim of this study is to assess the structural validity and reliability of the Norwegian version of the MOXFQ in the context of an ankle fracture patients one year after surgery and provide patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) estimates.

METHODS

A pragmatic cross-sectional study design was used to collect the one-year MOXFQ follow-up data from patients surgically treated for an ankle fracture in the period 2017 to 2020 at (Stavanger University Hospital). The structural validity and internal consistency were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. A separate test-retest study including patients at least one year since ankle surgery was used in the assessment of reliability and measurement error.

RESULTS

A confirmatory factor analysis of the three-factor model of the MOXFQ had a good model fit (TLI 0.94; CFI 0.95; RMSEA 0.094; SRMR 0.039). However, the measurement model demonstrated poor discriminant validity of the three factors. A unidimensional model of the 16 items had worse model fit, while a second-order factor model demonstrated strong factor loadings for a second-order factor. A bi-factor model also revealed a strong general factor but also unique variance in the Pain and Social Interaction domain. The domains had good internal consistency (McDonald's omega 0.80 to 0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC 0.80 to 0.92). The standard errors of measurements for the three domains were between 6.5 and 7.5, and 5.5 for the MOXFQ-Index (scale 0 to 100). PASS estimates for the (sub)scales were: Pain 45; Walking/Standing 39; Social Interaction 19; and MOXFQ-Index 34.

CONCLUSION

The MOXFQ with three domains demonstrated sufficient structural validity and reliability when used in the evaluation of a one-year postoperative ankle fracture population. Reporting the scores of the Pain and Walking/Standing domains was best supported.

Comparison of four patient reported outcome measures in patients with ankle fracture: A study on patient preferences and psychometric properties

BACKGROUND

The aim was to assess psychometric properties of Manchester Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), the Self-reported Foot and Ankle Score (SEFAS), the Olerud Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) in adults with ankle fractures.

METHODS

Patients received all four questionnaires 6, 12, 14, 24, 52, and 104 weeks following an ankle fracture. According to COSMIN guidelines, statistical tests were performed to assess floor- and ceiling effects, structural validity, construct validity and reliability. Cognitive interview was performed with 9 patients.

RESULTS

MOXFQ showed best model fit in Confirmatory Factor Analysis. When testing construct validity, all hypotheses were accepted except for OMAS and FJS. All questionnaires had an almost perfect test-retest reliability (Interclass Correlation Coefficient 0.81 to 0.91) and Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.76 to 0.95. MOXFQ was the best rated questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

All questionnaires performed well and we recommend MOXFQ for future use in ankle fracture studies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

A systematic review and mapping exercise to assess the content validity of patient-reported outcome measures for adults having reconstructive surgery of the lower limb

Aims

Lower limb reconstruction (LLR) has a profound impact on patients, affecting multiple areas of their lives. Many patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are employed to assess these impacts; however, there are concerns that they do not adequately capture all outcomes important to patients, and may lack content validity in this context. This review explored whether PROMs used with adults requiring, undergoing, or after undergoing LLR exhibited content validity and adequately captured outcomes considered relevant and important to patients.

Methods

A total of 37 PROMs were identified. Systematic searches were performed to retrieve content validity studies in the adult LLR population, and hand-searches used to find PROM development studies. Content validity assessments for each measure were performed following Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health measurement Instruments (COSMIN) guidelines. A mapping exercise compared all PROMs to a conceptual framework previously developed by the study team ('the PROLLIT framework') to explore whether each PROM covered important and relevant concepts.

Results

The systematic searches found 13 studies, while hand searches found 50 PROM development studies, and copies of all 37 measures. Although several studies discussed content validity, none were found which formally assessed this measurement property in the adult LLR population. Development of many PROMs was rated as inadequate, no PROM had sufficient content validity in the study population, and none covered all areas of the PROLLIT framework. The LIMB-Q was the most promising and comprehensive measure assessed, although further validation in a wider sample of LLR patients was recommended.

Conclusion

Current PROMs used in adults requiring, undergoing, or after undergoing LLR lack content validity and do not assess all important and relevant outcomes. There is an urgent need for improved outcome measurement in this population. This can be achieved through development of a new PROM, or through validation of existing measures in representative samples.

Clinical relevance of current patient-reported outcome measures for ankle fracture: surgeons' perspective

Objectives

Determine the relevance of the most frequently used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for monitoring patient recovery after ankle fracture, from the clinical perspective of orthopaedic trauma surgeons, given lack of validated PROMs.

Design

Prospective cohort.

Setting

Orthopaedic Trauma Association committee meetings, electronic correspondence.

Patients/Participants

Orthopaedic trauma surgeons.

Intervention

Delphi method for consensus activities.

Level of Evidence

IV.

Main Outcome Measurements

Most clinically relevant PROMs for ankle fracture recovery.

Results

Several English-language PROMs were identified based on use in literature and relevance to ankle fractures. 7 were selected by expert consensus. These are the Ankle Fracture Outcome of Rehabilitation Measure (A-FORM), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) Score, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF). The most clinically relevant PROM is the A-FORM, followed by the AAOS, LEFS, PROMIS PF, FADI, and OMAS, and the least clinically relevant overall, the FAAM.

Conclusions

Understanding which PROM best matches physician expectations for tracking recovery is an important step toward a robust, evidence-based approach to patient care. The A-FORM was identified as the most clinically relevant among the most used PROMs. These results will aid surgeons, clinicians, and scientists to identify a uniformly, clinically relevant PROM for the treatment and study of outcomes and recovery after isolated ankle fracture.

Evaluating Fibular Intramedullary Nails vs Traditional Plating in Geriatric Ankle Fractures: A 12-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

This study evaluates the outcomes of fibular intramedullary nails (IMNs) compared to traditional plates and screws (PS) in the surgical treatment of unstable ankle injuries in patients aged ≥65 years.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective study involving 32 elderly patients with unstable ankle fractures treated with IMNs from 2010 to 2022. A comparison was made with 125 case-control patients treated with PS during the same period. Outcomes compared included postoperative wound and nonwound complications, surgical reduction, union rates, implant removal rates, and the Olerud Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) at a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

RESULTS

The IMN group had a higher incidence of high-energy injuries, open fractures, concomitant surgery, and perioperative transfusion requirements than the PS group. Additionally, the IMN group developed fewer wound-related (3.1% vs 20% in the PS group, P = .043) and non-wound-related complications (18.8% vs 39.2% in the PS group, P = .030). Both groups had similar initial weightbearing restrictions, fracture union times, mean OMAS scores, rates of malunion or nonunion, and delayed implant removal times. Notably, there were significant differences in the quality and adequacy of mortise alignment between the groups (good: 53.1% in IMN group vs 79.2% in PS group, fair: 46.9% in IMN group vs 20.8% in PS group, P = .006).

CONCLUSION

Although the IMN group had an inferior outcome in the quality and adequacy of mortise reduction compared with the PS group, elderly patients with ankle fractures treated with IMN showed comparable functional outcomes to those treated with PS but with lower complication rates. Future research in this area will provide vital information for developing optimal treatment strategies, thereby improving the overall care of elderly patients with ankle fractures.

Analysis of Calcaneal Avulsion Fractures Treated Surgically and Nonsurgically: A Retrospective Multicenter Study

Background

Calcaneal avulsion fractures (CAvFs) at the Achilles tendon insertion are among the more challenging fractures to treat. Although rare, they often require reoperation. The optimal treatment, including nonsurgical procedures and better implants for surgical procedures in the treatment of CAvFs, remains to be established. Therefore, our study aimed to (1) perform a descriptive evaluation of CAvFs, including cases managed nonsurgically, and (2) assess surgical procedures, including the incidence of complications and reoperation for surgically treated CAvFs.

Methods

In this multicenter retrospective study, we collected data of patients with CAvFs treated at 9 hospitals from 2012 to 2022. We performed a descriptive study of CAvFs and compared postoperative complications and reoperation rates for multiple surgical techniques and implants. The size of the bone fragments was quantified.

Results

The data of 70 patients with CAvFs were analyzed; 20 patients were treated nonsurgically, and 50 were treated surgically. The mean age of patients was 68.5 years; 67% of the patients were female. Nineteen percent of the patients had diabetes, and 19% had osteoporosis. The incidence of postoperative complications was 30%, with infection in 14%, necrosis in 26%, and loss of reduction in 18%. The reoperation rate was 22%. Surgical techniques with use of cannulated cancellous screws were performed in 80% of the surgical cases. Cannulated cancellous screw (CCS) fixation alone resulted in a reoperation rate of 35%, whereas additional augmentation, including washers with CCS fixation, resulted in a reoperation rate of 10%. CCS fixation was successfully performed, although suture anchors were used in some cases with smaller fragments.

Conclusions

CAvFs occurred more frequently in older women and had a high rate of postoperative complications. A combination of CCS with augmentation was more effective at reducing postoperative complications than CCS fixation alone, even when the bone fragment size was small.

Level of Evidence

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Validation of the Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sports after Injury (ALR-RSI) Score as a Tool to Assess Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport in an Active Population After Ankle Fracture Surgery: A Cross-sectional Study

Ankle injuries account for 15% to 25% of all sports injuries resulting in significant pain and loss of function. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to validate a scale to help surgeons quantify the psychological readiness to Return To Sport (RTS) in patients undergoing ankle fracture surgery. ALR-RSI was used to assess the psychological readiness for RTS in athletic patients who underwent ankle fracture fixation between January 2020 and January 2021. Participants filled out ALR-RSI and 2 Patient-Related Outcome Measurement (PROM) tools: Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and Self-Reported Foot and Ankle Score (SEFAS). A total of 93 patients were included. There was a strong correlation between ALR-RSI and both OMAS and SEFAS, with Pearson coefficients of r = 0.58 and 0.53, respectively. ALR-RSI was significantly higher in the RTS group than in those who no longer practiced their main preinjury sport. Moreover, the discriminant validity of ALR-RSI (AUC = 0.81) was better than that of the SEFAS and OMAS (AUC = 0.64 and 0.65, respectively, p = .001). The intra-class correlation coefficient ρ of 0.94 showed excellent reproducibility. At an optimal cutoff value of 76.7, ALR-RSI had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 75% with a Youden index of 0.56. In conclusion, ALR-RSI was a valid and reproducible tool to evaluate the psychological readiness for RTS in an active population after an ankle fracture. This score could help surgeons identify athletes who may have unfavorable postoperative outcomes and provide support on the ability to RTS.

Multidisciplinary Management and Rehabilitation of Severe Crush Injury Resulting in Lisfranc Fracture: A Case Report

A 58-year-old male patient was seriously injured in his left foot as a result of a passenger car accident, resulting in a Lisfranc fracture and complications on his left side. The initial injury resulted in a 20-cm laceration, severe pain, and severe swelling. After primary care at the government hospital, the patient was referred to Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH) for further treatment. Clinical examination revealed infection, Lisfranc ligament rupture, bone exposure, restriction of movement, and muscle strength. His fracture was managed with Kirschner wire(K-wire) fixation surgically. A holistic physical management plan includes immobilization and a comprehensive medical program to reduce edema, muscle atrophy, and joint stiffness. Post physiotherapy showed significant improvements in joint function, muscle strength, and functional scores after rehabilitation. Outcome measures such as the Lower Extremity Functional Scale, Olerud-Molander Ankle Score, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 are related to physical recovery, stress reduction, and healing as a whole-life treatment. These data highlight the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach in the effective management of Lisfranc fracture injuries and confirm the advantages of timely intervention and physical therapy for the benefit of these patients.

Assessing the content validity of the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire in surgically treated ankle fracture patients: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Roughly 10% of fractures in adults are ankle fractures. These injuries are found in both sexes and present with different fracture characteristics. The treatment varies with the patients' biology and fracture type, and the goals are to restore stability, prevent pain and maintain ankle function. Clinicians generally use outcomes like assessment of radiography, pain level, or function. The use of patient-reported outcome measures is increasing, and the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ) has been shown to have good measurement properties when validated in patients with foot and ankle disorders. However, the instrument has not been validated for ankle fracture patients. This study aims to assess the content validity of the items in MOXFQ in surgically treated ankle fracture patients.

METHODS

A qualitative deductive design was used to investigate patients' response process of the MOXFQ. Individual interviews were conducted using cognitive interviewing based on the theoretical framework of the 4-step model by Tourangeau. Adult patients that were surgically treated for an ankle fracture between four weeks and 18 months were purposively sampled, and interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide. The predetermined categories were comprehension, retrieval, judgement, and response.

RESULTS

Seventeen respondents (65% females) were interviewed. Respondents' age ranged from 27 to 76 years. Some of the respondents in the early recovery phase were limited by post-operative restrictions and did not find the items in the walking/standing domain relevant. Respondents that were allowed weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT) were able to recall relevant information for most items. Respondents with time since surgery more than 12 months had less pain and remembered fewer relevant episodes in the recall period. Items in the social interaction domain contained ambiguous questions and were generally considered less important by respondents. The summary index score lacked important concepts in measuring overall quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain was a central concept in the post-operative recovery of ankle fracture patients. The MOXFQ-subscales for pain and walking/standing had acceptable content validity in patients that were allowed WBAT. The social interaction-subscale and the summary index score had insufficient content validity for this patient population.

A systematic review of the measurement properties of self-care scales in nurses

BACKGROUND

Self-care is a necessary measure against occupational injuries of nurses and improves nursing performance at the bedside. Nurses have different scales to measure self-care, and researchers are confused about choosing valid and reliable scales. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the measurement properties of self-care scales in nurses to identify the best available scales.

METHODS

Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and ProQuest) were systematically searched, with no date limiters, until 9 Jun 2023. A manual search was performed with Google Scholar and the reference list of articles to complete the search. Studies aiming to develop or determine the measurement properties of self-care in nurses were included. Based on Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments, the methodological quality of the studies was determined, and the result of each study on a measurement property was rated (sufficient, insufficient, or indeterminate). The quality of the evidence was graded using a modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach (high, moderate, low, or very low). These processes were used to make recommendations and identify the best scale to assess self-care in nurses.

RESULTS

Out of 8601 articles, six articles with five different scales were included. Only internal consistency was reported across all scales. Criterion validity, measurement error, responsiveness, feasibility, and interpretability, were not reported in any of them. Content validity was reported only in two studies with inconsistent results and low-quality evidence. None of the scales had methodological quality with a rating of very good and sufficient high-quality evidence for all measurement properties.

CONCLUSIONS

None of the scales is strongly recommended to measure self-care in nurses. Only the Professional self-care scale is temporarily recommended until their quality is assessed in future studies. Considering that the content of the examined scales does not meet all the professional self-care needs of nurses, designing a valid, reliable, and specialized scale for nurses is needed.