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Local pelvic radiography seen as effective for determining spino-pelvic parameters
Researchers of this retrospective study found in local pelvic radiography is more reliable than whole spine radiography for determining spino-pelvic parameters and should be used for evaluating adult patients with spinal deformity.
Researchers included 33 adult scoliosis and 33 non-deformity patients in the retrospective study. Pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope were measured in all patients in the study using whole spine-pelvic lateral radiographs (whole spine radiographs) and local pelvic lateral radiographs (local pelvic radiographs).
According to the five experienced spine surgeons who took the radiographs, the interobserver reliabilities of PI and PT from local pelvic radiographs were significantly higher than those found for whole spine radiographs. The intraobserver reliabilities of PI and PT from pelvic radiographs were higher than whole spine radiographs, but this finding was not statistically significant, according to data in the published study. The sacral slope measurements were similar between the two radiographic methods, according to researchers.
“[We] found that both intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities of PI and PT measurements were higher with the use of local pelvic compared to traditional whole spine radiography. In addition, the presence of scoliosis did not affect the reliabilities observed using local pelvic radiographs. Since PI is a key sagittal parameter used in the surgical decision making for [adult spinal deformity] ADS patients, we recommend the use of local pelvic radiography for a more accurate evaluation of this parameter,” researchers wrote in the study. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.