Inter-observer variability and its correlation to experience in measurement of lower limb mechanical axis on long leg radiographs

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• 作者：Raju Vaishya ; ^{raju.vaishya@gmail.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Vipul Vijay¹ ; ^{dr_vipulvijay@yahoo.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Vikas P. Birla¹ ; ^{gyankj1@gmail.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Amit Kumar Agarwal¹ ; ^{amitorthopgi@yahoo.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：Mechanical axis ; Total knee replacement ; Long leg radiographs ; Inter-observer ; Variability
• 刊名：Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：October-December 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：7
• 期：4
• 页码：260-264
• 全文大小：734 K

文摘

Restoration of mechanical axis (MA) is one of the most important aims of treatment of knee arthritis. The measurement of MA is often done on hip knee ankle (HKA) radiographs (LLR), but its measurement is often difficult and variable. We studied to check if inter-observer variability in the measurement of MA is dependent on the experience of the observer.

Materials and methods

48 patients (70 knees) underwent measurement of MA on HKA radiographs. The measurement was done by five observers of different experience. All the results were tested for inter-observer variability.

Results

The overall intra-class correlation was 0.70. The two full time consultants had good agreeability among them (p < 0.456). All the surgeons who had less than five years of experience among them also had good agreeability amongst them (all p values >0.005). All the other groups (except senior consultant and senior registrar) had statistically significant difference amongst them (all p values <0.005).

Conclusion

There is an inter-observer variability in the measurement of MA on the HKA radiographs. The agreeability between the observers increases as the experience of the personnel increases. Although long leg radiographs can be used for assessment for HKA, this variability should be kept in mind while using this as a tool for planning management of the arthritic knee.