Table 3 Specialist referral and waiting list prioritisation instruments, levels and scores for THA and TKA

Severity of disease (clinical and radiological exploration)

Moderate

0

Pain on examination

None

0

Severe

18

Mild

6

Moderate

15

Severe

30

Other abnormal findings

None

0

Abnormal findings on physical exam

None/mild

0

Mild

2

Moderate

5

Moderate

5

Severe

9

Severe

10

Multiple joint involvement

No

0

Yes, affected joints with moderate severity

4

Yes, severe involvement

10

Pain

Mild

0

Degree of pain

None

0

Pain on motion

None/mild

0

Moderate

17

Mild

4

Moderate

13

Severe

33

Mild to moderate

6

Severe

20

Moderate

9

Moderate to severe

14

Severe

20

Pain at rest

Probability of recovery

Moderate

0

High

4

Difficult in doing ADL

Some difficulty

0

Time walked

Unlimited

0

Ability to walk without significant pain

Over 5 blocks

0

Great difficulty

10

31-60 min.

2

1-5 blocks

4

Unable to do most ADL

20

11-30 min.

4

Less than 1 block

8

2-10 min.

6

Household ambulatory

13

2 < min. or indoors only

8

Unable to walk

10

Other functional limitations

None

0

Other functional limitations (ADL)

None

0

Mild

2

Mild

2

Moderate

4

Moderate

4

Severe

10

Severe (unable to do most activities)

10

Limitation on ability to work

No/does not work

0

Ability to work, give care to dependents or live independently

Not threatened or difficult

0

Ability to work, give care to dependents or live independently

Not threatened but more difficult

0

Yes

10

Not threatened but more difficult

4

Threatened but not immediately

7

Has someone to look after the patient

Yes

0

No

9

Threatened, but not immediately

6

Immediately threatened

10

Be a care-giver

No

0

Yes

6

Immediately threatened

10