Reliability and validity of a kyphosis-specific spinal appearance questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Spinal Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Hyperkyphosis, encompassing Scheuermann's and postural kyphosis, negatively impacts patients' perceived appearance and well-being.
• Currently, no patient-reported outcome questionnaire specifically addresses kyphosis-related appearance concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a new Kyphosis-specific Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (K-SAQ).
• To assess the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of the K-SAQ.

Main Methods:

• The K-SAQ was adapted from a modified Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ).
• Adolescents (10-20 years) with hyperkyphosis (curves ≥50°) completed the K-SAQ and SRS-22R at baseline.
• The K-SAQ was re-administered two weeks later to assess test-retest reliability.

Main Results:

• The K-SAQ exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84).
• Moderate correlations were found between K-SAQ scores and SRS-22R scores (total and self-image domains).
• Higher BMI and increased age were associated with worse K-SAQ scores.

Conclusions:

• The K-SAQ is a reliable and valid patient-reported outcome measure for kyphosis-specific appearance.
• This questionnaire provides a valuable tool for evaluating the cosmetic impact of hyperkyphosis.