Comparison of SF-36 and Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment in recovery from fixation of unstable ankle fractures.

This study assessed whether the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment questionnaire had fewer floor or ceiling effects than the SF-36 in evaluation of the functional recovery of operatively stabilized isolated ankle fractures. We also hypothesized that the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment would be more effective than the (Short Form) SF-36 in discriminating the functional recovery of different groups of patients after an ankle fracture. One hundred twenty-seven patients with an isolated ankle fracture were evaluated with the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment and SF-36 questionnaires after operative fracture fixation. The Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment had fewer floor and ceiling effects in long-term follow-up of patients with an isolated unstable ankle fracture. The Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment and SF-36 both appear able to assess general patient health, and both instruments identify patients who had significant problems with functional recovery. The Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment may be a more effective single instrument to track a patient's functional recovery than the SF-36 if it is able to assess general health and identify patients who are having poorer functional activity without significant floor or ceiling effects.