Indices of severity in osteoarthritis for weight bearing joints.

Indices of severity for hip and knee diseases may be applied to any disabling disease of these joints, but were especially designed and validated for osteoarthritis (OA). With experience, a score could be obtained in 3-4 minutes and the reproducibility was satisfactory. Their discriminant power in a double blind crossover trial of a given nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug versus placebo was, among other assessment tests, in the first rank concerning the hip OA index, in the 4th rank concerning the knee OA index. These indices allow longterm followup of OA, rationalization of decision for prosthesis, when the score reaches 8 to 12 points despite correct medical treatment.