Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Use of the iPhone for radiographic evaluation of hallux valgus

  • Scientific Article
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare the measurements made using a smartphone accelerometer and computerized measurements as a reference in a series of 32 hallux valgus patients.

Materials and methods

Two observers used an iPhone to measure the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and distal metatarsal articular angle (of anteroposterior foot radiographs in 32 patients with symptomatic hallux valgus on a computer screen. Digital angular measurements on the computer were set as the reference standard for analysis and comparison. The difference between computerized measurements and all iPhone measurements, and the difference between the first and second iPhone measurements for each observer were calculated. Inter- and intraobserver reliability of the smartphone measurement method was also tested.

Results

The variability of all measurements was similar for the iPhone and the computer-assisted techniques. The concordance between iPhone and computer-assisted angular measurements was excellent for the HVA, IMA, and DMAA. The maximum mean difference between the two techniques was 1.25 ± 1.02° for HVA, 0.92 ± 0.92° for IMA, and 1.10 ± 0.82° for DMAA. The interobserver reliability was excellent for HVA, IMA, and DMAA. The maximum mean difference between observers was 1.31 ± 0.89° for HVA, 0.90 ± 0.92° for IMA, and 0.78 ± 0.87° for DMAA. The intraobserver reliability was excellent for HVA, IMA, and DMAA.

Conclusions

We conclude that the Hallux Angles software for the iPhone can be used for measurement of hallux valgus angles in clinical practice and even for research purposes. It is an accurate and reproducible method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1a–c
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Perera AM, Mason L, Stephens MM. The pathogenesis of hallux valgus. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011;93(17):1650–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Coughlin MJ. Hallux valgus. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1996;78(6):932–66.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Coughlin MJ, Jones CP. Hallux valgus: demographics, etiology, and radiographic assessment. Foot Ankle Int. 2007;28(7):759–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Piqué-Vidal C, Maled-García I, Arabi-Moreno J, Vila J. Radiographic angles in hallux valgus: differences between measurements made manually and with a computerized program. Foot Ankle Int. 2006;27(3):175–80.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Srivastava S, Chockalingam N, El Fakhri T. Radiographic angles in hallux valgus: comparison between manual and computer-assisted measurements. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2010;49(6):523–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Coughlin MJ, Saltzman CL, Nunley 2nd JA. Angular measurements in the evaluation of hallux valgus deformities: a report of the ad hoc committee of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society on angular measurements. Foot Ankle Int. 2002;23(1):68–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. WG Healthcare. Hallux Angles homepage. http://www.ockendon.net/halluxangles_homepage.htm. Accessed 27 February 2012.

  8. Bussewitz BW, Levar T, Hyer CF. Modern techniques in hallux abducto valgus surgery. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2011;28(2):287–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Maffulli N, Longo UG, Marinozzi A, Denaro V. Hallux valgus: effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive surgery. A systematic review. Br Med Bull. 2011;97:149–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schneider W, Knahr K. Surgery for hallux valgus. The expectations of patients and surgeons. Int Orthop. 2001;25(6):382–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Coughlin MJ, Freund E. Roger A. Mann Award. The reliability of angular measurements in hallux valgus deformities. Foot Ankle Int. 2001;22(5):369–79.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Resch S, Ryd L, Stenström A, Johnsson K, Reynisson K. Measuring hallux valgus: a comparison of conventional radiography and clinical parameters with regard to measurement accuracy. Foot Ankle Int. 1995;16(5):267–70.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Van Vo H, Safiedine AM, Short T, Merrill T. A comparison of 4 common methods of hand-measured techniques with a computerized technique to measure the first intermetatarsal angle. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2004;43(6):395–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shima H, Okuda R, Yasuda T, Jotoku T, Kitano N, Kinoshita M. Radiographic measurements in patients with hallux valgus before and after proximal crescentic osteotomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91(6):1369–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Shaw M, Adam CJ, Izatt MT, Licina P, Askin GN. Use of the iPhone for Cobb angle measurement in scoliosis. Eur Spine J. 2012. In press.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Tolga Ege, Kenan Koca, Bahtiyar Demiralp & Mustafa Basbozkurt

  2. Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey

    Ozkan Kose

  3. Kultur mah. 3805.sk Durukent sit., F Blok Daire 22, Kepez, Antalya, Turkey

    Ozkan Kose

Authors
  1. Tolga Ege
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ozkan Kose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kenan Koca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bahtiyar Demiralp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mustafa Basbozkurt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ozkan Kose.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ege, T., Kose, O., Koca, K. et al. Use of the iPhone for radiographic evaluation of hallux valgus. Skeletal Radiol 42, 269–273 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1455-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1455-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation