Reliability, validity, responsiveness, and minimal important change of the Disablities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand and Constant-Murley scores in patients with a humeral shaft fracture

Kiran C. Mahabier, Dennis Den Hartog, Nina Theyskens, Michael H. J. Verhofstad, Esther M. M. Van Lieshout*, P. Koen Bos, Maarten W. G. A. Bronkhorst, Milko M. M. Bruijninckx, Jeroen De Haan, P. Ted Den Hoed, Martin G. Eversdijk, J. Carel Goslings, Robert Haverlag, Martin J. Heetveld, Albert J. H. Kerver, Karel A. Kolkman, Peter A. Leenhouts, Sven A. G. Meylaerts, Ron Onstenk, Martijn PoezeRudolf W. Poolman, Bas J. Punt, Ewan D. Ritchie, W. Herbert Roerdink, Gert R. Roukema, Jan Bernard Sintenie, Nicolaj M. R. Soesman, Maarten Van der Elst, Frank H. W. M. Van der Heijden, Frits M. Van der Linden, Peer Van der Zwaal, Jan P. Van Dijk, Hans-Peter W. Van Jonbergen, Egbert J. M. M. Verleisdonk, Jos P. A. M. Vroemen, Marco Waleboer, Philippe Wittich, Wietse P. Zuidema

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and Constant-Murley scores are commonly used instruments. The DASH is patient-reported, and the Constant-Murley combines a clinician-reported and a patient-reported part. For patients with a humeral shaft fracture, their validity, reliability, responsiveness, and minimal important change (MIC) have not been published. This study evaluated the measurement properties of these instruments in patients who sustained a humeral shaft fracture. Methods: The DASH and Constant-Murley instruments were completed 5 times until 1 year after trauma. Pain score, Short Form 36, and EuroQol-5D were completed for comparison. Internal consistency was determined by the Cronbach alpha. Construct and longitudinal validity were evaluated by assessing hypotheses about expected Spearman rank correlations in scores and change scores, respectively, between patient-reported outcome measures (sub) scales. The smallest detectable change (SDC) was calculated. The MIC was determined using an anchor-based approach. The presence of floor and ceiling effects was determined. Results: A total of 140 patients were included. Internal consistency was sufficient for DASH (Cronbach alpha = 0.96) but was insufficient for Constant-Murley (alpha = 0.61). Construct and longitudinal validity were sufficient for both patient-reported outcome measures (>75% of correlations hypothesized correctly). The MIC and SDC were 6.7 (95% confidence interval, 5.0-15.8) and 19.0 (standard error of measurement, 6.9), respectively, for DASH and 6.1 (95% CI-6.8 to 17.4) and 17.7 (standard error of measurement, 6.4), respectively, for Constant-Murley. Conclusions: The DASH and Constant-Murley are valid instruments for evaluating outcome in patients with a humeral shaft fracture. Reliability was only shown for the DASH, making this the preferred instrument. The observed MIC and SDC values provide a basis for sample size calculations for future research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E1-E12
JournalJournal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2017

Keywords

  • Humeral shaft fracture
  • DASH
  • Constant-Murley
  • patient reported outcome measure
  • measurement properties
  • responsiveness
  • reliability
  • validity

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