Analysis of Patient and Parent Assessment of Deformity in Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale

Abstract

Increasing scores of the WRVAS are strongly correlated with curve magnitude lending construct validity to this type of assessment tool. Patients with "surgery recommended" report more visible deformity on the scale than observed, braced, and postoperative patients, supporting the hypothesis that surgery improves the perceived appearance. Parents perceive more deformity of the ribs and shoulders more than did the patients, but other aspects of the deformity are identified equally. WRVAS scores correlate significantly with curve magnitude and treatment. Parents and patients have similar scores, but with parents perceiving more deformity of the ribs and shoulders than patients.