Superior responsiveness of the pain and function sections of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) as compared to the Lequesne-algofunctional Index in patients with osteoarthritis of the lower extremities

Objective: To compare the responsiveness of the Western Ontario and McMaste r Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a questionnaire format of t he Lequesne-Algofunctional Index in patients with OA of the lower extremiti es. Methods: Longitudinal analysis of the instruments' responsiveness [standard ized response mean (SRM), effect size (ES)] in ambulatory patients undergoi ng hip or knee arthroplasty. Results. At six months 36, and at one year 40 out of 43 patients undergoing hip (N=30) or knee arthroplasty (N=13) could be examined. Both responsiven ess statistics revealed the same order of responsiveness. For both indices and for both locations, the pain sections were more responsive than the fun ction sections. However, the WOMAC scales and the WOMAC global index (hip a t 12 months: SRM=2.4; knee at 12 months: SRM=2.0) were more responsive than the comparable Lequesne sections and Lequesne index (hip at 12 months: SRM =2.1; knee at 12 months: SRM=1.5). Conclusions: Although our results are based on a German version using a sel f-report format, the WOMAC scales appear to be more responsive than the Leq uesne index in patients with OA of the lower extremities. (C) 1999 OsteoArt hritis Research Society International.