TY - JOUR
T1 - Core outcomes in nerve surgery
T2 - development of a core outcome set for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
AU - Wilson, Thomas J.
AU - Davis, Gavin A.
AU - Dengler, Nora F.
AU - Guedes, Fernando
AU - Hébert-Blouin, Marie Noëlle
AU - Jack, Megan M.
AU - Jacques, Line G.
AU - Kretschmer, Thomas
AU - Mahan, Mark A.
AU - Midha, Rajiv
AU - Pondaag, Willem
AU - Puffer, Ross C.
AU - Rasulic, Lukas
AU - Ray, Wilson Z.
AU - Rizk, Elias
AU - Rodriguez-Aceves, Carlos A.
AU - Shapira, Yuval
AU - Smith, Brandon W.
AU - Socolovsky, Mariano
AU - Spinner, Robert J.
AU - Zager, Eric L.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American Association of Neurological Surgeons. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/2
Y1 - 2024/2
N2 - OBJECTIVE Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is common, affecting 1%–6% of the population. Despite this, there remains a lack of consensus regarding optimal treatment. This is primarily due to the difficulty one encounters when trying to assess the literature. Outcomes are inconsistently reported, which makes comparing studies or developing meta-analyses difficult or even impossible. Thus, there is a need for a core outcome set (COS) for UNE (COS-UNE) to help address this problem. The objective of this study was to utilize a modified Delphi method to develop COS-UNE. METHODS A 5-stage approach was utilized to develop COS-UNE: stage 1, consortium development; 2, literature review to identify potential outcome measures; 3, Delphi survey to develop consensus on outcomes for inclusion; 4, Delphi survey to develop definitions; and 5, consensus meeting to finalize the COS and definitions. The study followed the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Development (COS-STAD) recommendations. RESULTS The Core Outcomes in Nerve Surgery (COINS) Consortium comprised 21 participants, all neurological surgeons representing 11 countries. The final COS-UNE consisted of 22 data points/outcomes covering the domains of demographic characteristics, diagnostics, patient-reported outcomes, motor/sensory outcomes, and complications. Appropriate instruments, methods of testing, and definitions were set. The consensus minimum duration of follow-up was 6 months, with the consensus optimal timepoints for assessment identified as preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The authors identified consensus data points/outcomes and also provided definitions and specific scales to be utilized to help ensure that clinicians are consistent in their reporting across studies on UNE. This COS should serve as a minimum set of data to be collected in all future neurosurgical studies on UNE. The authors hope that clinicians evaluating ulnar neuropathy will incorporate this COS into routine practice and that future studies will consider this COS in the design phase.
AB - OBJECTIVE Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) is common, affecting 1%–6% of the population. Despite this, there remains a lack of consensus regarding optimal treatment. This is primarily due to the difficulty one encounters when trying to assess the literature. Outcomes are inconsistently reported, which makes comparing studies or developing meta-analyses difficult or even impossible. Thus, there is a need for a core outcome set (COS) for UNE (COS-UNE) to help address this problem. The objective of this study was to utilize a modified Delphi method to develop COS-UNE. METHODS A 5-stage approach was utilized to develop COS-UNE: stage 1, consortium development; 2, literature review to identify potential outcome measures; 3, Delphi survey to develop consensus on outcomes for inclusion; 4, Delphi survey to develop definitions; and 5, consensus meeting to finalize the COS and definitions. The study followed the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Development (COS-STAD) recommendations. RESULTS The Core Outcomes in Nerve Surgery (COINS) Consortium comprised 21 participants, all neurological surgeons representing 11 countries. The final COS-UNE consisted of 22 data points/outcomes covering the domains of demographic characteristics, diagnostics, patient-reported outcomes, motor/sensory outcomes, and complications. Appropriate instruments, methods of testing, and definitions were set. The consensus minimum duration of follow-up was 6 months, with the consensus optimal timepoints for assessment identified as preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS The authors identified consensus data points/outcomes and also provided definitions and specific scales to be utilized to help ensure that clinicians are consistent in their reporting across studies on UNE. This COS should serve as a minimum set of data to be collected in all future neurosurgical studies on UNE. The authors hope that clinicians evaluating ulnar neuropathy will incorporate this COS into routine practice and that future studies will consider this COS in the design phase.
KW - Core outcome set
KW - cubital tunnel syndrome
KW - peripheral nerve
KW - ulnar nerve
KW - ulnar neuropathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184279728&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3171/2023.6.JNS23702
DO - 10.3171/2023.6.JNS23702
M3 - Article
C2 - 37877978
AN - SCOPUS:85184279728
SN - 0022-3085
VL - 140
SP - 489
EP - 497
JO - Journal of neurosurgery
JF - Journal of neurosurgery
IS - 2
ER -