Table 3 Previous studies utilizing the WRVAS

Petruskevicius, Laursen & Lemche, et al [34]

26 patients who had undergone surgery (pedicle screw instrumentation)

WRVAS SRS (version undefined) Radiographic measures (undefined). WRVAS administered pre and post operatively.

Authors stated that :

The WRVAS demonstrated a "good correlation" with some domains of the SRS, especially Self Image.

The WRVAS "correlated well" with reductions in curve magnitude as a result of surgery.

Sanders, Polly & Cats-Baril, et al [23]

182 patients (mean age 14.7 years, 82% female). 133 parents (of patients).

WRVAS Type of treatment undertaken/recommended (groups: not scoliosis, observation, brace treatment, surgery recommended) Curve magnitude

Reliability: Inter rater reliability between parents and patients was acceptable (Spearman's rho = 0.8). Individual item correlations (Spearman's rho) range from 0.4 to 0.74 for patients, and 0.36 to 0.76 for parents (p < 0.05).

Validity: Significant correlation between curve magnitude and total WRVAS score (p < 0.01), differentiates between curves greater or less than 30 degrees.

Scores showed clear distinctions between treatment type/recommendation, with scores increasing from "not scoliosis" through to "surgery recommended" (p = .04).

Bago, Climent & Pineda, et al [35]

32 patients (mean age 17.9 years, range 13–40, 5 male).

WRVAS SRS-22 Curve magnitude

Reliability: Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) = 0.88. No evidence of collinearity.

Validity: Medium to strong correlations between all items of the WRVAS and Cobb angle (range r = 0.04 to r = 0.77).

Strong correlation between total WRVAS score and total SRS-22 (-.63, p = .0001).

Pineda, Bago & Gilperez, et al [24]

70 patients (mean age 19.4 years, range 12–40, 10 male).

WRVAS SRS-22 Curve magnitude

Reliability: Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) = 0.90 (same for under 18 and over 18 groups). No evidence of collinearity.

Validity: Medium to strong correlations of WRVAS items with Cobbmax (range r = .41 to .71, p < .01).

Strong correlation between total WRVAS score and Cobbmax (r = .69, p < .0001).

Medium to strong correlations between SRS-22 domains and total WRVAS score (range r = -.40 to -.57, p = .0001). Strong correlation between total WRVAS score and total SRS-22 (r = -.54, p = .0001). Results identical for both age groups.

Bago, Climent, Pineda et al [25]

101 patients (mean age 19.4 years, range 10–40, 15 males).

WRVAS Curvature pattern (groups: (30 thoracic, 39 double major, and 32 thoracolumbar) Radiographic measures

Validity: Curvature magnitude (proximal thoracic, main thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar), main thoracic apical vertebra rotation and apical vertebra offset and Cobbmax shared a significant correlation with total WRVAS score and all WRVAS items (with the exception of main thoracic apical vertebra rotation. The radiographic measures: T1 offset from central sacral line, difference in shoulder level and thoracolumbar apical vertebra offset and rotation were unrelated to WRVAS outcomes. The WRVAS was not able to discriminate between different curvature types, although scores were differentiated according to curvature magnitude. The WRVAS demonstrated good correlations with equivalent radiographic measures on the items Body Curve (1), Rib Prominence (2), Head Rib Pelvis (4) and Scapular Rotation (7), but not Flank Prominence (3), Head Pelvis (5) or Shoulder Level (6).