About the Oxford Knee Score
The Oxford Knee Score is a validated patient-reported outcome measure developed by researchers at the University of Oxford to assess knee function and pain following knee arthroplasty. This 12-item questionnaire focuses on activities of daily living and provides a comprehensive assessment of how your knee condition affects your quality of life. It is widely used by clinicians to evaluate the effectiveness of knee replacement surgery and to monitor your recovery progress over time.
Medical Specialties
Anatomic Areas
Clinical Indications
Developer Information
Developed by Dr Jill Dawson and Professor Ray Fitzpatrick in the Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, in association with orthopaedic consultants Professor David Murray and Professor Andrew Carr at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, University of Oxford.
Copyright & Licensing
© Oxford University Innovation Limited, 1998. All rights reserved.
Scoring Methodology
Each of the 12 items is scored on a scale from 0 to 4, with 0 representing the worst outcome and 4 representing the best outcome. The total score is calculated by summing all individual item scores, resulting in a range from 0 to 48. Higher scores indicate better knee function and less pain. The score is concise, reproducible, valid, and sensitive to clinically important changes in knee status.
Meaningful Change Threshold
A change of approximately 4 to 7 points in the Oxford Knee Score is considered the minimal important change (MIC), indicating a clinically significant improvement or deterioration in knee function. Studies have identified specific MIC values ranging from 4.7 to 7.1 points depending on the postoperative timeframe, with approximately 7.1 points at 12 months postoperatively representing a meaningful clinical change.
Score Interpretation
Understanding what your score means
severe
0 - 19Severe knee problems with significant impact on daily activities and quality of life
moderate
20 - 29Moderate to severe knee problems affecting function and causing considerable pain
mild
30 - 39Mild to moderate knee problems with some limitations in activities
satisfactory
40 - 48Satisfactory joint function with minimal knee problems and good quality of life
Clinical Limitations & Considerations
While the Oxford Knee Score is a validated and widely used measure, it has several limitations. It is specifically designed for patients undergoing knee arthroplasty and may not be suitable for assessing knee function in other patient populations or conditions. The questionnaire may not capture all aspects of knee function and patient experience. It should be considered as part of a comprehensive clinical assessment rather than as a standalone diagnostic tool. Additionally, cultural and linguistic adaptations may be necessary for non-English speaking populations.
Supporting Literature
Key validation and development studies for the Oxford Knee Score
- 1
Questionnaire on the perceptions of patients about total knee replacement
Dawson J, Fitzpatrick R, Murray D, Carr A
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume, 1998
Used in Literature
Studies and publications that have used the Oxford Knee Score
- 1
Questionnaire on the perceptions of patients about total knee replacement
Dawson J, Fitzpatrick R, Murray D, Carr A
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British volume, 1998
Related Outcome Measures
Other clinical questionnaires for similar specialties and conditions
Oxford Hip Score
A concise questionnaire evaluating hip-related pain and functional ability in patients undergoing total hip replacement.
KOOS-12 - Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (Short Form)
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WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index
A questionnaire to assess knee and hip osteoarthritis symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and physical function over the last 48 hours
KOOS - Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
A comprehensive questionnaire assessing knee function across five domains: pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sport/recreation, and quality of life.
IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation
The knee-specific subjective component of the International Knee Documentation Committee form set. It measures symptoms, sport-related difficulty and overall knee function as a single normalised score.
Kujala Anterior Knee Pain Scale
A 13-item self-report questionnaire that assesses subjective symptoms and functional limitations related to anterior knee pain syndrome, scored from 0 to 100.
This questionnaire is provided free of charge. Patient Watch charges only for platform services (data storage, automated reminders, analytics) - not for use of clinical instruments. This non-commercial model supports academic and clinical use. View full licensing disclosure