This article describes a new, noninvasive method of assessing the severity
of hallux valgus deformity by means of a set of standardized photographs. S
ix podiatrists were independently asked to grade the level of deformity of
13 subjects (26 feet) on a scale of 1 (no deformity) to 4 (severe deformity
). The reliability of the four-point scale for the severity of hallux valgu
s was investigated by means of kappa-type statistics for more than two rate
rs. The results showed that the grading method had excellent interobserver
repeatability with a combined kappa-type statistic of 0.86, making it a sui
table instrument for clinical and research purposes.