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Translation and validation of the German version of the foot and ankle outcome score

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Outcome assessment is critical in evaluating the efficacy of orthopaedic procedures. The Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) is a 42-item questionnaire divided into five subscales, which has been validated in several languages. Germany has no validated outcome score for general foot and ankle pathology. The aim of this study was to develop a German version of the FAOS and to investigate its psychometric properties.

Materials and methods

Forward and backward translation was executed according to official guidelines. The final version of the FAOS was investigated in 150 patients with various foot and ankle disorders. All patients completed the FAOS, Short Form-36, numeric rating scales for pain and disability, and the Hannover questionnaire. The FAOS was re-administered after 1 week. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency, minimal detectable change, construct validity, and floor and ceiling effects were analyzed.

Results

Test–retest reliability and internal consistency of each subscale were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.88–0.95; Cronbach’s α, 0.94–0.98). The minimal detectable changes of each subscale were 17.1–20.8 at the individual level and 2.0–2.4 at group level. There were moderate to strong correlations between FAOS subscales and physical outcomes and low to moderate correlations between FAOS subscales and mental outcomes. Floor and ceiling effects were not present.

Conclusion

The German version of the FAOS is a reliable and valid instrument for use in foot and ankle patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. J. A. van Bergen, I. N. Sierevelt & C. N. van Dijk

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    P. Hoogervorst

  3. Foot and Ankle Clinic, Hessing Foundation, Augsburg, Germany

    H. Waizy

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

    C. Becher

Authors
  1. C. J. A. van Bergen
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  2. I. N. Sierevelt
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  3. P. Hoogervorst
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  4. H. Waizy
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  5. C. N. van Dijk
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  6. C. Becher
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. J. A. van Bergen.

Electronic supplementary material

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Final translated version of the German Foot and Ankle Outcome Score. (DOC 61 kb)

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van Bergen, C.J.A., Sierevelt, I.N., Hoogervorst, P. et al. Translation and validation of the German version of the foot and ankle outcome score. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134, 897–901 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1994-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1994-8

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