Scoring postoperative results

Abstract

Standardized assessment of clinical outcome after repair of anorectal malformations (ARM) is essential for appropriate quality control in series of patients treated in single or different institutions, and for comparing different treatment modalities. Clinical assessment is subjective and may be biased by the observer, who is often the surgeon treating the patient. Therefore, pediatric surgeons performing clinical research need scales and scores that provide reliable information on the condition and functional status of their patients. However, appropriate methods and instruments for collecting data on the outcome after repair of ARM have been a matter of debate for decades. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.