Inter-rater reliability of physiotherapists using the Pirani scoring system for clubfoot: comparison with a modified five-point scale

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2014 Nov;23(6):493-500. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000083.

Abstract

This study examines inter-rater reliability between physiotherapists using the Pirani scoring system for clubfoot, and whether the addition of two scale points to give a modified five-point severity scale improves reliability. A total of 65 infant feet were assessed by two raters, with 21 different rater combinations used. The Pirani scoring system was found to be a reliable assessment tool when used by physiotherapists to score clubfoot, with a minimum of fair to good inter-rater reliability demonstrated across all clinical signs. The modified five-point scale proved significantly more reliable than the three-point scale; however, the benefit is not sufficient to warrant varying the original three-point scale.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Clubfoot / diagnosis*
  • Clubfoot / physiopathology
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Physical Therapy Modalities / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index