Abstract
Objective: Perform the translation and cultural adaptation of the Myelomeningocele Functional
Classification (MMFC) into Portuguese (Brazil) and study its psychometric properties.
Method: Validation study with translation, cultural adaptation and evaluation of psychometric
properties: reliability, test-retest and convergent validity. Sample of 20 individuals
with myelomeningocele with a median age of 10 (5 - 24.25) years, with a minimum of
3 and a maximum of 66 years. Reliability was determined by intra and interobserver
agreement, using the results of the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and
Confidence Interval 95% (IC-95%). Convergent validity was performed using the Sharrard,
Hoffer, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and Functional Mobility
Scale (FMS) classifications, and The Spearman Correlation Test was calculated.
Results: Intra (ICC range: 0.900-1.0) and interobserver (ICC: 0.936; IC-95%: 0.839-0.975)
reliability showed excellent levels of ICC. Convergent validity showed very strong
correlations with FMS-5 (r = 0.94, p = 0.00) and FMS-50 (r = 0.94, p = 0.00); strong
correlations with FMS-500 (r = 0.87, p = 0.00), Sharrard (r = 0.76, p = 0.00), Hoffer
(r = 0.83, p = 0.00), PEDI Functional Skills: Mobility (r = 0.84, p = 0.00) and PEDI
Caregiver Assistance: Mobility (r = 0.77, p = 0.00); and weak correlations with self
care domain of PEDI (r = 0.46, p = 0,04). The test-retest showed ICC = 1.00.
Conclusions: This study presents the psychometric properties of the MMFC, in addition to its translation
and cultural adaptation into Portuguese, the native language of the author of the
classification. MMFC demonstrates correlation with previously used myelomeningocele
classifications. MMFC demonstrated good results in the psychometric properties evaluated.
Thus, the MMFC seems adequate and applicable to individuals with myelomeningocele
and valid for the Brazilian population.
Keywords classifications - gait - myelomeningocele - prognosis - validation study
