Brazilian Version of the Myelomeningocele Functional Classification (MMFC): Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Properties.

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.