A scale for measuring symptoms related to degenerative diseases of the cervical spine

A scale for measuring symptoms related to degenerative diseases of the cerv ical spine is presented. Twenty typical symptoms are listed, e.g., neck pai n, dysesthesia, and reduced mobility. Responses are assessed via a 6-point scaling ("did not have symptom" - "had symptom and suffered very strongly". ) The cervical spine scale was tested in three samples: patients having und ergone cervical spine surgery (n = 70), patients with other orthopedic diag noses (n = 104), and healthy students (n = 100). The single items of the sc ale were aggregated into four scores: total number of symptoms, degree of o verall symptom distress, functional disability, and pain/psychological dist ress. Statistical analyses proved the high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85 to 0.95) and validity (content, convergent, discriminant) of all score s. The scale differs clearly between cervical spine patients, other orthope dic patients and healthy individuals, and between cervical spine patients w ith different subjective operative outcomes. For applied clinical purposes the cervical spine scale can be included in a quality of life profile (QL-p rofile); this allows for a readily understandable graphic depiction of indi vidual patients' QL-status.