Understand Minimally Clinical Important Difference (MCID) in Orthopaedics

Many physicians, surgeons, doctors will explain to patients that their procedure will improve their outcomes significantly compared to placebo, or nothing at all based on studies or the literature. They may provide you with that literature or data, showing statistically significant improvements in their procedure compared to patients who did not undergo the procedure. Although there are statistical improvements, they may not be considered clinical important, and the patient may not be able to actually detect a difference themselves! This is what is called minimally clinical important difference. If a procedure does not reach MCID, then the patient will not be able to recognize a difference before or after the procedure. MCID generally should be at least 15-20% better than the preoperative scaled score. A score of 5-10% may not reach MCID, let alone obtain patient satisfaction.