Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs
Abstract Background Following head and neck trauma, the involvement of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and its contribution to a patients transition to chronic pain, is poorly understood. The detection of hypermobility in this region is dependent on clinical examination and static imaging modalit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-020-00317-6 |
| _version_ | 1828435421479043072 |
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| author | Karthik V. Hariharan Lauren Terhorst Matthew D. Maxwell Christopher G. Bise Michael G. Timko Michael J. Schneider |
| author_facet | Karthik V. Hariharan Lauren Terhorst Matthew D. Maxwell Christopher G. Bise Michael G. Timko Michael J. Schneider |
| author_sort | Karthik V. Hariharan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Following head and neck trauma, the involvement of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and its contribution to a patients transition to chronic pain, is poorly understood. The detection of hypermobility in this region is dependent on clinical examination and static imaging modalities such as x-ray, CT and MRI. Sagittal plane hypermobility of the CCJ is evaluated using saggital view, flexion-extension cervical radiographs. Frontal plane hypermobility is typically assessed using lateral bending and open mouth cervical radiographs. Unfortunately there is no established reliability surrounding the use of these measures. This study explores the reliability of radiographic measurements of lateral-bending open-mouth cervical radiographs. Methods Cervical open-mouth lateral-bending X-ray images were collected from 56 different patients between 18 and 60 years of age patients following cervical spine injury. These images were interpreted by two musculoskeletal radiologists and two clinicians (physiatrist and chiropractor), using a standard set of measurements. Measurements included qualitative and quantitative assessments of the amount of asymmetry noted between various osseous landmarks. Reliability statistics were calculated for levels of agreement using kappa coefficients (κ) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. Results Reliability (κ) for qualitative assessments were moderate to substantial for asymmetry of neutral C2 spinous position, dens-lateral mass spacing, and “step off” between the lateral borders of the articular pillars of C2 and C1 lateral mass (κ range = .47–.78). ICC values for the quantitative measurements of dens-lateral mass spacing and “step off” between the lateral borders of the C2 articular pillars and C1 lateral mass were moderate to excellent (ICC range = .56–.97). Conclusions The qualitative and quantitative measurements used in this study demonstrated good to excellent inter-examiner reliability. Correlation with clinical findings is necessary to establish the utility of these measurements in clinical practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:08:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ea39059c30d4fb9bd3aaffe5761ec04 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:08:13Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ea39059c30d4fb9bd3aaffe5761ec042022-12-22T01:36:51ZengBMCChiropractic & Manual Therapies2045-709X2020-05-012811910.1186/s12998-020-00317-6Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographsKarthik V. Hariharan0Lauren Terhorst1Matthew D. Maxwell2Christopher G. Bise3Michael G. Timko4Michael J. Schneider5Department of Physical Therapy, University of PittsburghDepartment of Occupational Therapy, University of PittsburghInterventional Spine and Sports Medicine, MedStar National Rehabilitation Network, School of Medicine, Georgetown UniversityDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of PittsburghDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of PittsburghDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of PittsburghAbstract Background Following head and neck trauma, the involvement of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and its contribution to a patients transition to chronic pain, is poorly understood. The detection of hypermobility in this region is dependent on clinical examination and static imaging modalities such as x-ray, CT and MRI. Sagittal plane hypermobility of the CCJ is evaluated using saggital view, flexion-extension cervical radiographs. Frontal plane hypermobility is typically assessed using lateral bending and open mouth cervical radiographs. Unfortunately there is no established reliability surrounding the use of these measures. This study explores the reliability of radiographic measurements of lateral-bending open-mouth cervical radiographs. Methods Cervical open-mouth lateral-bending X-ray images were collected from 56 different patients between 18 and 60 years of age patients following cervical spine injury. These images were interpreted by two musculoskeletal radiologists and two clinicians (physiatrist and chiropractor), using a standard set of measurements. Measurements included qualitative and quantitative assessments of the amount of asymmetry noted between various osseous landmarks. Reliability statistics were calculated for levels of agreement using kappa coefficients (κ) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively. Results Reliability (κ) for qualitative assessments were moderate to substantial for asymmetry of neutral C2 spinous position, dens-lateral mass spacing, and “step off” between the lateral borders of the articular pillars of C2 and C1 lateral mass (κ range = .47–.78). ICC values for the quantitative measurements of dens-lateral mass spacing and “step off” between the lateral borders of the C2 articular pillars and C1 lateral mass were moderate to excellent (ICC range = .56–.97). Conclusions The qualitative and quantitative measurements used in this study demonstrated good to excellent inter-examiner reliability. Correlation with clinical findings is necessary to establish the utility of these measurements in clinical practice.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-020-00317-6Cervical spine injuryCraniocervical junctionRadiographyInstabilityHypermobility |
| spellingShingle | Karthik V. Hariharan Lauren Terhorst Matthew D. Maxwell Christopher G. Bise Michael G. Timko Michael J. Schneider Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs Chiropractic & Manual Therapies Cervical spine injury Craniocervical junction Radiography Instability Hypermobility |
| title | Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| title_full | Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| title_fullStr | Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| title_short | Inter-examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from Open-mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| title_sort | inter examiner reliability of radiographic measurements from open mouth lateral bending cervical radiographs |
| topic | Cervical spine injury Craniocervical junction Radiography Instability Hypermobility |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-020-00317-6 |
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