Toddlers with limb deficiency: conceptual basis and initial application of a functional status outcome measure.

OBJECTIVE To describe the conceptual foundation, development, and initial psychometric analyses of a new outcome measure of functional status in toddlers with limb deficiency. DESIGN Parents of children with limb deficiency completed self-report measures during a routine medical clinic visit. SETTING Outpatient orthopedic pediatric clinic. PARTICIPANTS Twenty parents (mothers) of children (ages 1 to 4 years) with acquired or congenital limb deficiency. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The newly developed Child Amputee Prosthetics Project-Functional Status Inventory for Toddlers (CAPP-FSIT). RESULTS Estimates of internal consistency reliability of the measure are high, suggesting conceptual congruence among the items. Initial validity studies confirm the CAPP-FSIT differentiates between toddlers with upper limb deficiency and lower limb deficiency in terms of functional activity and prosthesis use. The new measure does not appear to be contaminated by gender or socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION The CAPP-FSIT is a promising measure for assessing functional abilities in toddlers with limb deficiency.