Evaluation of the reliability of the modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel Method.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the inter-evaluator reproducibility of the Modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel Method.


METHODS
Forty-five patients took part in the study, with a mean age of 57.93 (±13.35) who underwent total hip arthroplasty. All were evaluated by three researchers, who received training to standardize their criteria. The evaluation was held by the Modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel Method (association of prefixes A, B and C) the same day at random, and the researchers did not report to one another throughout the evaluations. For mobility assessment, passive hip movements were performed and measured with the universal goniometer. The statistical analysis was carried out by the Cronbach Test (p≤0.05 and 0.7≤ α<1.0).


RESULTS
The statistical analysis showed significantly high inter-evaluators reliability for the items: prefix (p<0.001; α = 0.961), pain (p<0.001; α= 0.892), gait (p<0.001; α= 0.898), mobility (p<0.001; α=0.810) and total score (p<0.001; α=0.917).


CONCLUSIONS
There was high significance and reliability among the three evaluators for all items of the Modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel Method, suggesting that this method is reliable, provided its items are parameterized and previous training of evaluators is carried out. Level of Evidence II, Diagnostic Study.
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Fernanda Kazue
FK
Ugino
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carolina Moraes
CM
Righetti
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Débora Pinheiro Lédio
DP
Alves
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rodrigo Pereira
RP
Guimarães
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Emerson Kiyoshi
EK
Honda
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo - FCMSCSP - São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Nelson Keiske
NK
Ono
Arthroplasty, replacement, hip; Follow-up Studies; Reproducibility of results