Assessment of Recovery following Rehabilitation in Orthopaedic Surgeries: A Review of Existing Tools

With the rise in musculoskeletal problems, orthopaedic surgeries have increased. Successful recovery after such surgeries depends not only on the operation itself but also on proper rehabilitation. Two types of assessment tools are used to track patient recovery: Performance-Based Measures (PBMs), which evaluate physical abilities like walking or balance, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), which reflect pain levels, mental well-being, and daily function. This literature review looked at peer reviewed research from 1985 to 2025, analyzing widely used PROMs such as the Oxford Scores, WOMAC, SF-36, LEFS, KOOS, DASH, and others that also consider psychological and pain-related factors. The review found that while each tool is helpful in specific ways, none of them fully capture the complete picture of post-surgical recovery, especially where patients may have multiple joint issues and face unique social and cultural challenges. These gaps point to the need for a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool that considers all key aspects of recovery.