Purpose: To validate a simple numerical scale to record the socket comfort of an artificial limb.
Method: This study has adapted the numerical rating scale for pain (Downie et al.(1)) to form a 11 point scale to record the socket comfort score (SCS). Patients were asked to rate the comfort of their socket on a 0 - 10 scale where 0 and 10 represented the most uncomfortable and the most comfortable socket imaginable. Ratings of clinical evidence of poor fit were recorded independently by the physician and the prosthetist. Patients gave new numerical ratings of comfort after any necessary intervention to the socket. Repeatability, criterion related validity, sensitivity to change and use in clinical practice was studied on 44 consecutive patients in the prosthetic rehabilitation clinic.
Results: The study showed the reported SCS was consistent and reliable, high correlations being found between three scores obtained from patients by independent recorders. A strong relationship existed between the reported SCS and clinical evidence of poor fit judged by the physician and by the prosthetists' ratings. Significant positive changes in SCS were found after intervention to improve the fit.
Conclusion: SCS has shown repeatability, criterion related validity and sensitivity to change. It has clinical utility and wider use is recommended.