Editorial Commentary: Patient-Related Outcome Measures, Minimal Clinically Important Differences, and Substantial Clinical Benefits for Adolescent Hip Arthroscopy: Making Progress With Outcome Measures or Unquestionably Spinning out of Control?

Abstract

With the myriad of potential patient-related outcome measures, it is nearly inevitable that we become a bit delirious with regard to evaluating our patients. A potential improvement in outcome assessment, from the standpoint of clinical relevance, is a focus on the minimal clinically important difference and substantial clinical benefit. Large improvements in outcome scores are required in order for adolescent hip patients to perceive substantial clinical benefit. Meaningful data and outcomes are clearly critical issues; however, a variety of patient-related outcome measures used in current and previous studies introduce the risk of "reporting bias." In the end, we might need to find some common ground with regard to patient evaluation if we are to compare current and future studies with each other or historic published controls. If we fail to develop some uniformity, I fear we will be left to reinvent the wheel for years to come.