TY - JOUR
T1 - A Novel Method to Measure the Sagittal Curvature in Spinal Deformities: The Reliability and Feasibility of 3-D Ultrasound Imaging
AU - Lee, Timothy Tin Yan
AU - Jiang, Wei Wei
AU - Cheng, Connie Lok Kan
AU - Lai, Kelly Ka Lee
AU - To, Michael Kai Tsun
AU - Castelein, René M.
AU - Cheung, Jason Pui Yin
AU - Zheng, Yong Ping
PY - 2019/10
Y1 - 2019/10
N2 - The objective of this study was to test the reliability of sagittal spinal curvature measurements using 3-D ultrasound in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Ultrasound spinous process angle (USSPA) and ultrasound laminae angle (USLA) were measured on sagittal ultrasound images, while the Cobb angle (XCA) was measured on sagittal X-ray images. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the intra- and inter-observer variability, linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman method, including mean absolute difference (MAD), were investigated to evaluate the reliability and validity of the two ultrasound angles compared with XCA. Excellent measurement reliabilities were demonstrated for both ultrasound angles (ICC ≥ 0.91). Moderate to good and significant linear correlations and good agreement were demonstrated between the ultrasound methods and XCA (Thoracic [R2 ≥ 0.574] / Lumbar [R2 ≥ 0.635]). No significant differences were found for the MADs between both corrected ultrasound angles and XCA. Sagittal ultrasound angles were demonstrated to be reliable for assessing sagittal curvature using spinous processes and laminae and to have good and significant correlations with XCAs. Since it is non-ionizing and relatively low cost, this method opens the possibility of providing frequent curve monitoring and evaluation, and screening for AIS patients, particularly based on sagittal profiles.
AB - The objective of this study was to test the reliability of sagittal spinal curvature measurements using 3-D ultrasound in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Ultrasound spinous process angle (USSPA) and ultrasound laminae angle (USLA) were measured on sagittal ultrasound images, while the Cobb angle (XCA) was measured on sagittal X-ray images. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the intra- and inter-observer variability, linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman method, including mean absolute difference (MAD), were investigated to evaluate the reliability and validity of the two ultrasound angles compared with XCA. Excellent measurement reliabilities were demonstrated for both ultrasound angles (ICC ≥ 0.91). Moderate to good and significant linear correlations and good agreement were demonstrated between the ultrasound methods and XCA (Thoracic [R2 ≥ 0.574] / Lumbar [R2 ≥ 0.635]). No significant differences were found for the MADs between both corrected ultrasound angles and XCA. Sagittal ultrasound angles were demonstrated to be reliable for assessing sagittal curvature using spinous processes and laminae and to have good and significant correlations with XCAs. Since it is non-ionizing and relatively low cost, this method opens the possibility of providing frequent curve monitoring and evaluation, and screening for AIS patients, particularly based on sagittal profiles.
KW - 3-D ultrasound
KW - Sagittal
KW - Scoliosis
KW - Spinous processes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068741250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.05.031
DO - 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.05.031
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31303403
AN - SCOPUS:85068741250
SN - 0301-5629
VL - 45
SP - 2725
EP - 2735
JO - Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
JF - Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
IS - 10
ER -