Abstract
The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Activity Scale and other common activity scales are primarily used for patients undergoing joint reconstructive surgery. However, no such scale exists for musculoskeletal trauma patients. The authors propose The University of New Mexico (UNM) 12-Level Functional Activity Scale to address this gap in assessing functional activity and managing postoperative care for orthopaedic trauma patients. A comprehensive review of existing scales led to the development of the UNM Scale, emphasizing simplicity, objectivity, and potential benefits in patient education and interdisciplinary collaboration. The UNM Scale provides a structured approach to assess and monitor functional activity levels, relying less on subjective input and incorporating surgeon assessments. It enhances patient comprehension, facilitates surgeon-patient communication, and helps tailor rehabilitation protocols. The proposed UNM Scale may fill a critical gap in orthopaedic trauma care, potentially improving treatment outcomes and patient-provider communication. Further research is needed to validate its efficacy and feasibility in clinical practice.
Recommended Citation
Maez, Devin A.; Rick J. Gehlert; and Thomas A. DeCoster. "Introducing The University of New Mexico 12-Level Functional Scale: A Novel Approach for Assessing Functional Recovery in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients." Western Journal of Orthopaedics 14, 1 (2025). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wjo/vol14/iss1/5