Knee Outcome Measurements: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)

The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) is a self-reported questionnaire that assesses the patient's perception of their knee function and related quality of life. It was developed to evaluate knee injuries, particularly knee osteoarthritis, but it can also be used to assess knee function in a wide range of conditions. The KOOS questionnaire includes 42 items divided into five subscales: Pain, other Symptoms, Function in daily living (ADL), Function in sport and recreation (Sport/Rec), and knee-related Quality of life (QOL). The patient is asked to rate the severity of each symptom or function limitation on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better function or fewer symptoms.

The KOOS questionnaire can be used in both clinical and research settings to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, track changes in knee function over time, and compare the outcomes of different treatments. It can be used for patients with knee injuries, osteoarthritis, and other knee conditions.

The interpretation of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) results depends on the purpose of the assessment, the individual patient's condition, and the severity of their symptoms. In general, higher scores indicate better knee function and quality of life, while lower scores indicate worse knee function and quality of life. There are no universally accepted "normal" results for the KOOS, as scores can vary widely depending on the patient's condition and the severity of their symptoms. However, healthcare professionals may use a change of at least 10-20 points in a specific subscale as a clinically meaningful improvement in the patient's condition.

References:

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