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A validated photonumeric cellulite severity scale for the area above the knees: the knee cellulite severity score
Author(s) -
Longhitano S.,
Galadari H.,
Cascini S.,
Shaniko K.,
Chester J.,
Farnetani F.,
Pellacani G.,
Urtis G.G.,
Guida S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/jdv.16269
Subject(s) - cellulite , medicine , intraclass correlation , physical therapy , cellulitis , surgery , psychometrics , clinical psychology
Background Treatment for cellulite above the knees is increasingly requested. However, a classification of cellulite of this area has not yet been developed. Objective To validate the proposed knee cellulite severity score (KCSS) for the assessment of cellulite and skin laxity above the knee. Materials and methods Based on standardized photographs of cellulite and skin laxity above the knees of 57 females (114 knees), three key morphological aspects of cellulite were identified. A photonumeric KCSS was developed and validated by three independent assessors. Results The three key cellulite morphological features (number of depressions, depth of depressions and presence of laxity) are each graded from 0 to 3, producing a classification of no lesions (0), mild (1–3), moderate (4–6) and severe (7–9). Evaluators at different time points repeated similar classifications (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.9), which were also similar among the assessors (inter‐observer reliability >0.9). All three key morphological aspects were deemed necessary, and positively contributed, to the overall scale (item‐total correlation analysis values >0.89, P < 0.05). Conclusions The KCSS is a consistent, comprehensive, reliable, and reproducible tool for standardized and objective assessment of the severity of cellulite and skin laxity above the knees.