Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus

Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics, Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Pes cavovarus is a three-dimensional complex foot deformity variably involving a varus hindfoot, high longitudinal arch and forefoot adduction. Two-dimensional radiographs may be flawed by rotational bias and operator-related bias, w...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alessio Bernasconi MD, Lucy Cooper FRCS, Shirley Lyle FRCS, Shelain Patel FRCS, Nicholas Cullen FRCS, Matthew Welck FRCS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-10-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011419S00106
_version_ 1818891720524300288
author Alessio Bernasconi MD
Lucy Cooper FRCS
Shirley Lyle FRCS
Shelain Patel FRCS
Nicholas Cullen FRCS
Matthew Welck FRCS
author_facet Alessio Bernasconi MD
Lucy Cooper FRCS
Shirley Lyle FRCS
Shelain Patel FRCS
Nicholas Cullen FRCS
Matthew Welck FRCS
author_sort Alessio Bernasconi MD
collection DOAJ
description Category: Basic Sciences/Biologics, Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Pes cavovarus is a three-dimensional complex foot deformity variably involving a varus hindfoot, high longitudinal arch and forefoot adduction. Two-dimensional radiographs may be flawed by rotational bias and operator-related bias, while standard computed tomography (CT) cannot be perfomed in loading conditions. Three-dimensional (3D) cone beam weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) may overcome these drawbacks, obtaining physiological weightbearing images with low-dose radiation. New 3D semiautomatic tools have been proposed to measure hindfoot alignment, but reliability in pes cavovarus has never been tested. The aim of this study was to assess intra and interobserver reliability of 3D biometrics on WBCT imaging in pes cavovarus. Our hypothesis was that foot and ankle offset, calcaneal offset and hindfoot angle were reliable measures regardless of type and severity of deformity. Methods: Cone beam WBCT anonymised datasets from 34 pes cavovarus (PC) (17 neurological, 17 non-neurological) and 17 normal feet were retrospectively reviewed. All WBCTs were performed during routine investigation. Inclusion criteria consisted of no previous ipsilateral foot/ankle surgery and ability to heel weightbear. Three foot and ankle surgeons (blinded to patient diagnosis) independently measured the following variables on 51 feet: foot and ankle offset (FAO), calcaneal offset (CO) and hindfoot angle (HA) using dedicated software. Each observer repeated all measurements two-weeks apart. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess normality of data distribution. The Pearson or Spearman correlation test and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and were used to assess intra and interobserver reliability, respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess whether clinical diagnosis (neurological PC, non-neurological PC, normal controls) or severity of varus deformity (4 groups based on FAOs 25th, 50th and 75th centiles) could affect reliability of FAO measurements. Results: Intra and interobserver reliability for FAO (r= 0.98; ICC: 0.98), CO (r=0.94; ICC 0.89) and HA measurements (r=0.93; ICC:0.89) were excellent. Subgroup analysis showed that FAOs intra and interobserver reliability remained excellent in neurological PC (r= 0.96; ICC: 0.97), non-neurological PC (r=0.95; ICC: 0.96) and normal feet (r=-0.97; ICC: 0.94). Also, intraobserver (r=0.95, r=0.76, r=0.82 and r=0.92 for FAO >0%, from -7% to 0%, from -13% to -7%, and <-13%, respectively) and interobserver reliability for FAO measurements (ICC: 0.78, ICC: 0.76, ICC: 0.85 and ICC: 0.92) scored excellent regardless of the deformity. Conclusion: This study confirms that three-dimensional semiautomatic tools used on weightbearing CT datasets have excellent intra and interobserver reliability in the assessment of hindfoot alignment in pes cavovarus. The nature and severity of the deformity does not affect the reliability of the measurements. This infers that these 3D biometric tools on WBCT images can be reliably used in severe neurological cavovarus feet to evaluate and monitor cavovarus deformity and assess response to intervention.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T17:45:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7c37e115bfd8417c84d7ca909732c06e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2473-0114
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T17:45:18Z
publishDate 2019-10-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
spelling doaj.art-7c37e115bfd8417c84d7ca909732c06e2022-12-21T20:12:05ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142019-10-01410.1177/2473011419S00106Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes CavovarusAlessio Bernasconi MDLucy Cooper FRCSShirley Lyle FRCSShelain Patel FRCSNicholas Cullen FRCSMatthew Welck FRCSCategory: Basic Sciences/Biologics, Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Pes cavovarus is a three-dimensional complex foot deformity variably involving a varus hindfoot, high longitudinal arch and forefoot adduction. Two-dimensional radiographs may be flawed by rotational bias and operator-related bias, while standard computed tomography (CT) cannot be perfomed in loading conditions. Three-dimensional (3D) cone beam weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT) may overcome these drawbacks, obtaining physiological weightbearing images with low-dose radiation. New 3D semiautomatic tools have been proposed to measure hindfoot alignment, but reliability in pes cavovarus has never been tested. The aim of this study was to assess intra and interobserver reliability of 3D biometrics on WBCT imaging in pes cavovarus. Our hypothesis was that foot and ankle offset, calcaneal offset and hindfoot angle were reliable measures regardless of type and severity of deformity. Methods: Cone beam WBCT anonymised datasets from 34 pes cavovarus (PC) (17 neurological, 17 non-neurological) and 17 normal feet were retrospectively reviewed. All WBCTs were performed during routine investigation. Inclusion criteria consisted of no previous ipsilateral foot/ankle surgery and ability to heel weightbear. Three foot and ankle surgeons (blinded to patient diagnosis) independently measured the following variables on 51 feet: foot and ankle offset (FAO), calcaneal offset (CO) and hindfoot angle (HA) using dedicated software. Each observer repeated all measurements two-weeks apart. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess normality of data distribution. The Pearson or Spearman correlation test and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and were used to assess intra and interobserver reliability, respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess whether clinical diagnosis (neurological PC, non-neurological PC, normal controls) or severity of varus deformity (4 groups based on FAOs 25th, 50th and 75th centiles) could affect reliability of FAO measurements. Results: Intra and interobserver reliability for FAO (r= 0.98; ICC: 0.98), CO (r=0.94; ICC 0.89) and HA measurements (r=0.93; ICC:0.89) were excellent. Subgroup analysis showed that FAOs intra and interobserver reliability remained excellent in neurological PC (r= 0.96; ICC: 0.97), non-neurological PC (r=0.95; ICC: 0.96) and normal feet (r=-0.97; ICC: 0.94). Also, intraobserver (r=0.95, r=0.76, r=0.82 and r=0.92 for FAO >0%, from -7% to 0%, from -13% to -7%, and <-13%, respectively) and interobserver reliability for FAO measurements (ICC: 0.78, ICC: 0.76, ICC: 0.85 and ICC: 0.92) scored excellent regardless of the deformity. Conclusion: This study confirms that three-dimensional semiautomatic tools used on weightbearing CT datasets have excellent intra and interobserver reliability in the assessment of hindfoot alignment in pes cavovarus. The nature and severity of the deformity does not affect the reliability of the measurements. This infers that these 3D biometric tools on WBCT images can be reliably used in severe neurological cavovarus feet to evaluate and monitor cavovarus deformity and assess response to intervention.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011419S00106
spellingShingle Alessio Bernasconi MD
Lucy Cooper FRCS
Shirley Lyle FRCS
Shelain Patel FRCS
Nicholas Cullen FRCS
Matthew Welck FRCS
Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
title_full Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
title_fullStr Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
title_full_unstemmed Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
title_short Intraobserver and Interobserver Reliability of Cone Beam Weightbearing Semiautomatic Three- Dimensional Measurements in Symptomatic Pes Cavovarus
title_sort intraobserver and interobserver reliability of cone beam weightbearing semiautomatic three dimensional measurements in symptomatic pes cavovarus
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011419S00106
work_keys_str_mv AT alessiobernasconimd intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus
AT lucycooperfrcs intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus
AT shirleylylefrcs intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus
AT shelainpatelfrcs intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus
AT nicholascullenfrcs intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus
AT matthewwelckfrcs intraobserverandinterobserverreliabilityofconebeamweightbearingsemiautomaticthreedimensionalmeasurementsinsymptomaticpescavovarus