A Literature Synthesis Indicates Very Low Quality, but Consistent Evidence of Improvements in Function after Surgical Interventions for Primary Osteoarthritis of the Elbow

Table 3

Summary table for outcomes of open joint debridement-3.

Study and year	Design	Level of evidence	𝑛	Followup (months)	Pain Δ	ROM Δ	Function Δ
Cohen et al., 2000 [20]	Nonrandomized control study	III	18 out of 44	35.5	0–6 Likert scale from MEPI (after 2 points)	21	MEPI
Oka., 2000 [21]	Case; series	IV	50	59.5	0–3 grading scale (before 2.46 to after 0.42)	24	—
Oka et al., 1998 [22]	Case series	IV	36 (38 elbows)	71	0–2 grading scale (before 2 to after 0.24)	24	—
Minami et al., 1996 [23]	Case series	IV	44	127	27 out of 44 reported good pain relief.; No measure reported	17	—
Tsuge and Mizuseki, 1994 [24]	Case series	IV	28 (29 elbows)	64	Good pain relief.; No measure reported	34	(i) JOA elbow scoring system (before 55.2 to after 84.5); (ii) Most of the patients returned to work
Morrey., 1992 [9]	Case series	IV	15	33	Morrey’s system (0–3 Likert scale).; (2.06 before to 0.33 after)	21	Morrey’s elbow scoring system (before 51 to after 75)