Further validation of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-30) questionnaire among adult patients with degenerative spinal disorder.

PURPOSE: The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-30) questionnaire proved valid in measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients with spinal deformity or degenerative disease. This study further assesses the validity of the SRS-30 by comparing its results with other HRQoL instruments, such as Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the RAND-36, among unselected adult patients with degenerative spinal disorder.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

628 consecutive patients completed the SRS-30, the ODI, the pain visual analog scale (VAS), and RAND-36 questionnaires. Using a 9 mm minimal important difference threshold of the VAS, patients were divided into three groups of symptom location: back pain (n = 226), lower extremity pain (n = 161), and combination of both (n = 241). Statistical and illustrative tests using beta coefficients, Rasch measurement analytics, and score distributions were used for analysis.

RESULTS

The SRS-30 functioned well for all three subgroups. There were small differences in convergent validity of the SRS-30 compared to the ODI and the RAND-36 between the three subgroups. The SRS-30 performed similarly in different pain groups independent of age, gender, or deformity severity. The scale displayed good coverage and targeting for all three subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The SRS-30 proved to provide valid HRQoL scores for all adult patients with degenerative spinal disorders. Implications for Rehabilitation Degenerative spinal conditions associated with spinal deformities are common in patients over 60 years. Low back pain is globally the leading cause of disability. The applicability of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-30) questionnaire has not been tested in relation to different pain origins. The SRS-30 proved to provide valid health-related quality of life assessment among patients with degenerative spinal disease independent of pain location. The SRS-30 questionnaire can be used to assess the level of disability and rehabilitation of patients with degenerative spinal disease.