Allepuz et al reported a score for prioritizing hip and knee arthroplastic surgery developed by the Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research Cataract. This can help to allocate access to a limited healthcare resource. The authors are from Barcelona, the IRYSS Network and CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP).
Parameters:
(1) disease severity
(2) probability of recovery
(3) limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) related to cataracts
(4) limitations in work ability
(5) is there someone able to look after the patient?
(6) need to be a caregiver
(7) pain
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
disease severity |
none |
0 |
|
mild |
0 |
|
moderate |
0 |
|
severe |
18 |
probability of recovery |
low |
0 |
|
moderate |
0 |
|
high |
4 |
difficulty with ADL |
none |
0 |
|
some |
0 |
|
great |
10 |
|
unable to do most or all ADL |
20 |
limitation in work ability |
does not work |
0 |
|
none |
0 |
|
yes |
10 |
someone to look after patient |
no |
9 |
|
yes |
0 |
need to be a caregiver |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
6 |
pain |
none |
0 |
|
mild |
0 |
|
moderate |
17 |
|
severe |
33 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 7 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 100
• The higher the score the greater the the priority for arthroplasty.