A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle
Background: Scoliosis is the most common type of spinal deformity. A universal and standard method for evaluating scoliosis is Cobb angle measurement, but several studies have shown that there is intra- and inter- observer variation in measuring cobb angle manually. Objective: Develop a computer...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jbpe.ir/Journal_OJS/JBPE/index.php/jbpe/article/view/730/404 |
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| author | Safari A. Parsaei H. Zamani A. Pourabbas B. |
| author_facet | Safari A. Parsaei H. Zamani A. Pourabbas B. |
| author_sort | Safari A. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Scoliosis is the most common type of spinal deformity. A universal
and standard method for evaluating scoliosis is Cobb angle measurement, but several
studies have shown that there is intra- and inter- observer variation in measuring
cobb angle manually.
Objective: Develop a computer- assisted system to decrease operator-dependent
errors in Cobb angle measurement.
Methods: The spinal cord in the given x-ray image of the spine is highlighted
using contract-stretching technique. The overall structural curvature of the spine is
determined by a semi-automatic algorithm aided by the operator. Once the morphologic curve of the spine is determined, in the last step the cobb-angle is estimated by
calculating the angle between two normal lines to the spinal curve at the inflection
points of the curve.
Results: Evaluation results of the developed algorithms using 14 radiographs of
patients (4 - 40 years old) with cobb angle ranges from 34 - 82 degrees, revealed that
the developed algorithm accurately estimated cobb angle. Statistical analysis showed
that average angle values estimated using the developed method and that provided by
experts are statistically equal. The correlation coefficient between the angle values
estimated using the developed algorithm and those provided by the expert is 0.81.
Conclusion: Compared with previous algorithms, the developed system is easy
to use, less operator-dependent, accurate, and reliable. The obtained results are promising and show that the developed computer-based system could be used to quantify
scoliosis by measuring Cobb angle.
Citation: Safari A, Parsaei H, Zamani A, Pourabbas B. A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle. J Biomed Phys Eng.
2019;9(3):317-326. https://doi.org/10.31661/jbpe.v9i3Jun.730. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:33:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e51868924214b3a9453ec86a3ac4673 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2251-7200 2251-7200 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T13:33:03Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e51868924214b3a9453ec86a3ac46732022-12-22T00:23:01ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering2251-72002251-72002019-06-0193317326A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb AngleSafari A.0Parsaei H.1Zamani A.2Pourabbas B.3Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranBone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chamran Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranBackground: Scoliosis is the most common type of spinal deformity. A universal and standard method for evaluating scoliosis is Cobb angle measurement, but several studies have shown that there is intra- and inter- observer variation in measuring cobb angle manually. Objective: Develop a computer- assisted system to decrease operator-dependent errors in Cobb angle measurement. Methods: The spinal cord in the given x-ray image of the spine is highlighted using contract-stretching technique. The overall structural curvature of the spine is determined by a semi-automatic algorithm aided by the operator. Once the morphologic curve of the spine is determined, in the last step the cobb-angle is estimated by calculating the angle between two normal lines to the spinal curve at the inflection points of the curve. Results: Evaluation results of the developed algorithms using 14 radiographs of patients (4 - 40 years old) with cobb angle ranges from 34 - 82 degrees, revealed that the developed algorithm accurately estimated cobb angle. Statistical analysis showed that average angle values estimated using the developed method and that provided by experts are statistically equal. The correlation coefficient between the angle values estimated using the developed algorithm and those provided by the expert is 0.81. Conclusion: Compared with previous algorithms, the developed system is easy to use, less operator-dependent, accurate, and reliable. The obtained results are promising and show that the developed computer-based system could be used to quantify scoliosis by measuring Cobb angle. Citation: Safari A, Parsaei H, Zamani A, Pourabbas B. A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2019;9(3):317-326. https://doi.org/10.31661/jbpe.v9i3Jun.730.http://jbpe.ir/Journal_OJS/JBPE/index.php/jbpe/article/view/730/404Cobb-angle MeasurementCurve-fittingScoliosisSpinal Curvature Measurement |
| spellingShingle | Safari A. Parsaei H. Zamani A. Pourabbas B. A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering Cobb-angle Measurement Curve-fitting Scoliosis Spinal Curvature Measurement |
| title | A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle |
| title_full | A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle |
| title_fullStr | A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle |
| title_short | A Semi-Automatic Algorithm for Estimating Cobb Angle |
| title_sort | semi automatic algorithm for estimating cobb angle |
| topic | Cobb-angle Measurement Curve-fitting Scoliosis Spinal Curvature Measurement |
| url | http://jbpe.ir/Journal_OJS/JBPE/index.php/jbpe/article/view/730/404 |
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