Watson used a score to evaluate the shoulder function in a patient with a torn rotator cuff. This can help compare a patient’s performance before and after surgery and to monitor function over time. The author is from Guy’s Hospital in London.
Parameters:
(1) patient’s opinion
(2) surgeon’s assessment of pain
(3) surgeon’s assessment of deltoid power
(4) surgeon’s assessment of passive range of movement (abduction plus rotation)
Parameter |
Findings |
Points |
---|---|---|
patient’s opinion |
complete satisfaction |
50 |
|
in between levels of satisfaction |
1 - 49 |
|
complete dissatisfaction |
0 |
pain |
none (complete relief) |
20 |
|
minimal to moderate pain |
11-19 |
|
moderate residual pain |
10 |
|
moderate to severe pain |
1-9 |
|
severe pain |
0 |
deltoid power |
|
(MRC) * 4 |
where:
• MRC = Medical Research Council muscle strength grade with arm abducted at 45 degrees.
points for passive range of motion =
= ((range of passive motion for abduction in the scapular plane at the glenohumeral joint) + (range of glenohumeral rotation)) / 30
where:
• The maximal range of passive motion is 120 degrees.
• The maximal range of glenohumeral rotation is 180 degrees.
• The range for passive range of motion is 0 to 10.
total score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 100
• The higher the score the better the function.
Total Score |
Outcome |
100 |
perfect shoulder |
> 75 |
good |
50 – 75 |
fair |
< 50 |
poor |
0 |
useless, severely painful |
Purpose: To evaluate a patient with a torn rotator cuff before or after surgery using the functional outcome score of Watson.
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic
Objective: clinical diagnosis, including family history for genetics, severity, prognosis, stage
ICD-10: M75.1,