Intra-and inter-rater reliability of the knee society knee score, post total knee arthroplasty at Johannesburg Hospital.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish the intra and inter-rater reliability of the Knee Society Knee Score. The Knee Society Knee Score is a scoring system developed by Insall et al (1989). It may be used to assess the structural components of the knee joint of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. This may benefit the physiotherapists by increasing their confidence in drawing inference on the effects of physiotherapy interventions on post total knee arthroplasty, once the reliability of the tool is established. Design: Correlation study Subjects: A volunteer sample of thirty post total knee arthroplasty patients attending the arthroplasty clinic at Johannesburg Hospital between six weeks and twelve months postoperatively were selected for this study. vi Method: Recruited patients were evaluated twice with a time interval of one hour between them. The alignment scores were obtained from the surgeon. Statistical Analysis: The intra- and inter-rater reliability were estimated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Intra-rater reliability was calculated by ICC of the scores obtained by each examiner during test one and test two. Inter-rater reliability was calculated by ICC of the scores obtained during each test by examiner one and examiner two. Results: The ICC showed excellent intra-rater reliability (h= 0.95) for Examiner A and good intra-rater reliability (h= 0.71) for Examiner B. The ICC showed moderate inter-rater reliability between the examiners during test one and two (h= 0.67 during test one and h= 0.66 during test two). Conclusion: The KSKS has good intra-rater reliability when tested within a period of one hour. The KSKS demonstrated moderate agreement for inter rater reliability.