Pain and function after total knee replacement. Free with attribution.
Oxford Knee Score (Oxford Knee Score (OKS)) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess pain and function after total knee replacement. The instrument contains 12 items.
Source / attribution: Dawson J, Fitzpatrick R, Murray D, Carr A. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998;80(1):63-69. © Isis Innovation; free for non-commercial use.
The instrument's primary construct — pain and function after total knee replacement — is operationalized through a fixed set of items, each with a defined response format. This standardisation is what allows Oxford Knee Score scores to be compared meaningfully across clinicians, sites, and studies.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, Oxford Knee Score is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 12 items below to see your Oxford Knee Score score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (0–4). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Oxford Knee Score uses simple summation: each item's selected response is converted to a numeric value, and the values are added to produce a total score. Reverse-scored items are inverted before summation.
Scoring notes: Higher score = better function (modern 0–48 scoring; original used 12–60 reverse).
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–19 | Severe knee arthritis | Likely to need surgical assessment. |
| 20–29 | Moderate-to-severe arthritis | Surgical opinion may be helpful. |
| 30–39 | Mild-to-moderate arthritis | Conservative management. |
| 40–48 | Satisfactory joint function | Symptoms unlikely to need replacement. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How would you describe the pain you usually have from your knee? | Mild | 2 |
| 2 | Have you had any trouble washing and drying yourself because of your knee? | With moderate difficulty | 2 |
| 3 | Have you had trouble getting in / out of a car or using public transport because of your knee? | With moderate difficulty | 2 |
| 4 | How long can you walk before pain becomes severe (with or without a stick)? | 5–15 minutes | 2 |
| 5 | After a meal (sat at a table), how painful is it for you to stand up because of your knee? | Moderately painful | 2 |
| 6 | Have you been limping when walking because of your knee? | Sometimes / just at first | 2 |
| 7 | Could you kneel down and get up again afterwards? | With moderate difficulty | 2 |
| 8 | Have you been troubled by pain from your knee in bed at night? | Some nights | 2 |
| 9 | How much has pain from your knee interfered with your usual work (including housework)? | Moderately | 2 |
| 10 | Have you felt that your knee might suddenly 'give way' or let you down? | Sometimes / just at first | 2 |
| 11 | Could you do household shopping on your own? | With moderate difficulty | 2 |
| 12 | Could you walk down one flight of stairs? | With little difficulty | 3 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 25
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 25 falls between 20 and 29 → Moderate-to-severe arthritis
Moderate-to-severe arthritis. Surgical opinion may be helpful.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. Oxford Knee Score supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If Oxford Knee Score doesn't fit your context, related instruments in orthopaedics include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | Self-reported low-back-pain functional disability | 10 | — |
| NDI | Self-reported neck-pain functional disability | 10 | — |
| Oxford Hip Score | Pain and function after total hip replacement | 12 | — |
| LEFS | Function with lower-extremity musculoskeletal disorders | 20 | — |
| IPSS | Lower-urinary-tract symptoms in men | 7 | — |
| IIEF-5 / SHIM | Erectile dysfunction screen | 5 | — |
| DLQI | Skin-disease impact on health-related quality of life | 10 | ≈ 2 minutes |
| POEM | Atopic eczema severity over the past week | 7 | — |
Oxford Knee Score (Oxford Knee Score (OKS)) is a validated instrument that assesses pain and function after total knee replacement.
Oxford Knee Score contains 12 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 40–48 fall in the "Satisfactory joint function" band. Symptoms unlikely to need replacement.
Scores of 0–19 fall in the "Severe knee arthritis" band. Likely to need surgical assessment.
Oxford Knee Score is free to use with attribution. Dawson J, Fitzpatrick R, Murray D, Carr A. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998;80(1):63-69. © Isis Innovation; free for non-commercial use.
Dawson J et al. The Oxford Knee Score. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998;80(1):63-69.
No. Oxford Knee Score is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
Oxford Knee Score is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: