A new foot and ankle outcome score: Questionnaire based, subjective, Visual-Analogue-Scale, validated and computerized

Richter, Martinus; Zech, Stefan; Geerling, Jens; Frink, Michael; Knobloch, Karsten; Krettek, Christian

doi:10.1016/j.fas.2006.04.001

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Volume 12, Issue 4 , Pages 191-199, 2006

A new foot and ankle outcome score: Questionnaire based, subjective, Visual-Analogue-Scale, validated and computerized

Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

Received 3 October 2005; received in revised form 27 March 2006; accepted 4 April 2006.

Abstract

Our purpose was to construct and validate a new score taking into consideration the flaws of existing scores.

Methods

A new score named Visual-Analogue-Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA) with the following features was constructed: questionnaire based on 20 subjective questions, Visual-Analogue-Scale (VAS) based rating, computerized evaluation. The score was validated in 121 subjects. For validation, SF-36^® and Hannover Questionnaire (Q) were obtained and correlated with VAS FA.

Results

The correlation VAS FA versus SF-36^® and Q (Pearson, all p-values <0.001, r≥0.5) was sufficient for the total score and all score categories (pain, function, other complaints).

The time needed for evaluating the scores was significantly lower for VAS FA than for SF-36^® and Q (Oneway-ANOVA, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The introduced score is the first validated (on SF-36^®), subjective, VAS based outcome score for foot and ankle. The VAS FA is computerized which enables faster evaluation than SF-36^® or Q.

Keywords: Score, Visual-Analogue-Scale (VAS), Validation, Foot and ankle surgery