The postoperative COFAS end-stage ankle arthritis classification system: interobserver and intraobserver reliability

Foot Ankle Spec. 2012 Feb;5(1):31-6. doi: 10.1177/1938640011433051. Epub 2012 Jan 20.

Abstract

End-stage ankle arthritis is operatively treated with numerous designs of total ankle replacement and different techniques for ankle fusion. For superior comparison of these procedures, outcome research requires a classification system to stratify patients appropriately. A postoperative 4-type classification system was designed by 6 fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons. Four surgeons reviewed blinded patient profiles and radiographs on 2 occasions to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the classification. Excellent interobserver reliability (κ = .89) and intraobserver reproducibility (κ = .87) were demonstrated for the postoperative classification system. In conclusion, the postoperative Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (COFAS) end-stage ankle arthritis classification system appears to be a valid tool to evaluate the outcome of patients operated for end-stage ankle arthritis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Ankle Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Ankle Joint / surgery*
  • Arthrodesis / adverse effects
  • Arthrodesis / methods*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement / adverse effects
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement / methods*
  • Canada
  • Classification / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Orthopedics / classification
  • Osteoarthritis / classification*
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / surgery*
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Postoperative Complications / classification*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Preoperative Care / methods
  • Radiography
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Societies, Medical / classification
  • Treatment Outcome