Comparative study of the FAOS and FAAM questionnaires as functional assessment instruments for patients with hallux valgus

Abstract

Objective: To compare the Portuguese translations of the Foot and Ankle Activity Measure (FAAM) and the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) questionnaires as functional assessment instruments for patients with hallux valgus and assess correlations between scores and severity of deformity. Methods: A total of 28 patients were assessed and the functional scores provided by the FAAM and FAOS questionnaires were compared and their correlations with clinical and radiological severity were analyzed. Results: Mean age was 46.88 years (range: 18 to 64). Laterality was distributed as follows: 57.1% had the deformity on the right foot (16 cases) and 42.9% on the left (12 cases). The deformities identified were graded as follows: 26.1% of patients had mild deformity (6 cases), 45.3% had moderate deformity (14 cases), and 28.6% had severe deformity (8 cases). It was observed that the distribution of scores for the different grades of deformity was the same for both questionnaires. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the results obtained using the FAAM or the FAOS questionnaire or in the relationship of proportionality between radiological deformity grade and the functional scores obtained using the two tests. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.