ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the assessment of outcome in spinal deformity, low back pain, cervical spine and trauma. The requirements of these four areas differ, although there is some overlap, such that disability and generic outcome measures can be applied to all four areas, and measures of deformity can be applied to trauma cases. Psychosocial factors are especially relevant to back-pain patients, although there is accumulating evidence that psychological distress can be relieved if pain and other symptoms can be treated.
