einstein (São Paulo). 01/Apr/2014;12(2):198-203.

Reliability analysis of radiographic methods for determination of posterolateral lumbossacral fusion

Alberto Ofenhejm , Felipe de Moraes , Nicola Jorge Carneiro , Fernando José , Luciano Miller Reis , Patricia Rios

DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082014AO2964

Objective

To analyze intra and interobserver agreement of two radiographic methods for evaluation of posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis.

Methods

Twenty patients undergoing instrumented posterolateral fusion were evaluated by anteroposterior and dynamic lateral radiographs in maximal flexion and extension. The images were evaluated initially by 6 orthopedic surgeons, and after 8 weeks, reassessed by 4 of them, totaling 400 radiographic measurements. Intra and interobserver reliability were analyzed using the Kappa coefficient and Landis and Koch criteria.

Results

Intra and interobserver agreement regarding anteroposterior radiographs were, respectively, 76 and 63%. On lateral views, these values were 78 and 84%, respectively. However, the Kappa analysis showed poor intra and interobserver agreement in most cases, regardless of the radiographic method used.

Conclusion

There was poor intra and interobserver agreement in the evaluation of lumbosacral fusion by plain film in anteroposterior and dynamic lateral views, with no statistical superiority between the methods.

Reliability analysis of radiographic methods for determination of posterolateral lumbossacral fusion
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