Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Validity and reliability of a computer method to estimate vertebral axial rotation from digital radiographs

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Axial vertebral rotation, an important parameter in the assessment of scoliosis may be identified on X-ray images. In line with the advances in the field of digital radiography, hospitals have been increasingly using this technique. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of computer-processed rotation measurements obtained from digital radiographs. A software program was therefore developed, which is able to digitally reproduce the methods of Perdriolle and Raimondi and to calculate semi-automatically the rotation degree of vertebra on digital radiographs. Three independent observers estimated vertebral rotation employing both the digital and the traditional manual methods. Compared to the traditional method, the digital assessment showed a 43% smaller error and a stronger correlation. In conclusion, the digital method seems to be reliable and enhance the accuracy and precision of vertebral rotation measurements.

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. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Braun JT, Akyuz E (2005) Prediction of curve progression in a goat scoliosis Model. J Spinal Disord Tech 18:272–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Cobb JR (1948) Outline for the study of scoliosis. Instructional Course Lectures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 5:261–275

    Google Scholar 

  3. Nash C, Moe JH (1969) A study of vertebral rotation. J Bone Joint Surg 51:223–229

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Perdriolle R, Vidal J (1985) Thoracic idiopathic scoliosis curve evaluation and prognosis. Spine 10:785–791

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Drerup B (1984) Principles of measurement of vertebral rotation from frontal projection of the pedicles. J Biomech 17:923–935

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stokes IAF, Bigalow LC, Moreland MS (1986) Measurement of axial rotation of vertebrae in scoliosis. Spine 11:213–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Weiss HR (1995) Measurement of vertebral rotation: Perdriolle versus Raimondi. Eur Spine J 4:34–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ho EKW, Upadhyay SS, Ferris L, Chan FL, Shone JB, Hsu LCS et al (1992) A comparative study of computed tomographic and plain radiographic methods to measure vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 17:771–774

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yazici M, Acaroglu ER, Alanay A, Deviren V, Cila A, Surat A (2001) Measurement of vertebral rotation in standing versus supine position in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Pediatr Orthop 21:252–256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kushner DC, Cleveland RH, Herman TE, Zaleske DJ, Ehrlich MG, Correia JA (1986) Radiation dose reduction in the evaluation of scoliosis: an application of digital radiography. Radiology 161:175–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chi W, Cheng CW, Yeh WC, Chuang SC, Chang S, Chen JH (2006) Vertebral axial rotation measurement method. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 81:8–17

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Göçen S, Havitçioglu H, Alici E (1999) A new method to measure vertebral rotation from CT scans. Eur Spine J 8(261–265):261–265

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Molnár S, Manó S, Kiss L, Csernátony Z (2006) Ex vivo and in vitro determination of the axial rotational axis of the human thoracic spine. Spine 31:984–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hartley R, Zisserman A (2004) Multiple view geometry in computer vision. Cambridge Press, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  15. Barsanti CM, De Bari A, Covino BM (1990) The torsion meter: a critical review. J Pediatr Orthop 10:527–531

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Omeroglu H, Ozekin O, Bicimoglu A (1996) Measurement of vertebral rotation in idiopathic scoliosis using the Perdriolle torsionmeter: a clinical study on intraobserver and interobserver error. Eur Spine J 5:167–171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Richards BS (1992) Measurement error in assessment of vertebral rotation using the Perdriolle torsionmeter. Spine 17:513–517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lam GC, Hill DL, Le LH, Raso JV, Lou EH (2008) Vertebral rotation measurement: a summary and comparison of common radiographic and CT methods. Scoliosis. doi:10.1186/1748-7161-3-16

  19. Doi K (2007) Computer-aided diagnosis in medical imaging: historical review, current status and future potential. Comput Med Imaging Graphics 31:198–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to observers, Fernando Herrero, Maximiliano Porto Azevedo and Juan Javier for skillful measurements and to Dr. Marcelo Henrique Nogueira Barbosa and Dr. Helton Luiz Aparecido Defino for valuable suggestions. This project was financially supported by grants from São Paulo State Research Support Fund (FAPESP, process #2007/58120-0) and Brazilian Scientific Research Advisory Board (CNPq).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil

    Alan P. Pinheiro

  2. School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

    Michelle C. Tanure & Anamaria S. Oliveira

Authors
  1. Alan P. Pinheiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michelle C. Tanure
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anamaria S. Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan P. Pinheiro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pinheiro, A.P., Tanure, M.C. & Oliveira, A.S. Validity and reliability of a computer method to estimate vertebral axial rotation from digital radiographs. Eur Spine J 19, 415–420 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1186-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-1186-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation