Effectiveness of using H. Kitaoka (AOFAS) scale, FFI (Italian version), Roles and Maudsley score, VAS in patients with flatfoot

Abstract

Assessment of the functional capacity of the foot requires adequate tools depending on a specific nosology. Objective: to investigate the possibility of using evaluation scale of H. Kitaoka (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS)), Foot Function Index (FFI) (Italian version), Roles and Maudsley score, visual analog scale (VAS) in patients with flatfoot. Materials and methods. Clinical and X-ray examinations of 63 patients (78 feet) who had flatfoot were performed. Their average age was 42.5 ± 2.0 (9–72) years. X-ray and clinical indicators were used: horizontal and vertical talo-metatarsal angles (TMA), angle of valgus deviation of the calcaneus, body mass index. The assessment of the functional state of the foot was carried out according to the H. Kitaoka (AOFAS) scale, FFI (Italian version), Roles and Maudsley score, VAS. The strength of the relationship between indicators was studied ­using Pearson’s pairwise correlations; a correlation regression analysis was performed on models where the indicators of rating scales were the dependent variables. Results. There was an inverse correlation between the foot function score (AOFAS) and the age and TMA, a direct correlation between the FFI and the age and body mass index, a direct dependence of functional insufficiency (Roles and Maudsley score) and pain level (VAS) on age. A sufficient degree of correlation (0.5–0.75) was found between the applied scales. Conclusions. Sufficient criterial and construct validity of the AOFAS scale, FFI (Italian version), Roles and Maudsley score, VAS was found when used in patients with flatfoot. The use of selected scales is an adequate tool for assessing functional capacity in patients with flatfoot.