Translation of the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) into German (MEPS-G)

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Assessment Tools

Background:

• The Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) is a widely used clinical tool for evaluating elbow function.
• Existing German translations lack verification for use in the German healthcare system.
• There is a need for a culturally adapted and validated German version of the MEPS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate the MEPS into German, creating the MEPS-G.
• To assess the applicability and quality criteria of the MEPS-G in Germany.
• To ensure the German version maintains the psychometric properties of the original MEPS.

Main Methods:

• Cultural adaptation of the MEPS following established guidelines.
• Bilingual translation process involving two independent translations and back-translations.
• Pretesting the final German questionnaire (MEPS-G) with 73 participants to verify suitability.

Main Results:

• Successful translation of the MEPS into the German version (MEPS-G) with minor adjustments.
• The MEPS-G was completed in an average of 2.5 minutes (±1.6).
• Initial analysis indicates the MEPS-G maintains identical psychometric properties to the original English MEPS.

Conclusions:

• The German version of the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS-G) is a reliable tool for elbow function assessment.
• The MEPS-G is suitable for use in the German healthcare system.
• Further studies will comprehensively evaluate the detailed quality criteria and psychometric properties of the MEPS-G.