Reproducibility and agreement of radiographic assessment of carpal deformities in foals.
Abstract: The Pivot Point (PP) method is commonly used in the radiographic assessment of carpal deformities in young foals, as the range of deviation may influence treatment choice. The aims of this study were to assess the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the PP method and subjective radiographic evaluation without line drawing to establish the anatomical site responsible for carpal deviation in foals and to evaluate the agreement between these two techniques. Unassigned: Anonymized radiographs of foals presented for investigation of carpal deformity or prematurity were retrospectively and independently reviewed by six readers. Readers were first asked to subjectively identify the origin of the deviation and then apply the PP method and calculate the angle of deviation (PP_Angle). A second reading in a different randomized order was performed at least two weeks after the first reading. The carpi with the highest variability in PP_Angle measurements were reviewed in consensus by two other radiologists who did not perform the measurements. Unassigned: A total of 52 radiographs from 25 foals were selected. Good intraobserver reproducibility was observed for all variables, with no significant differences between the first and second readings by the same reader. Measurement of the angle of deviation using the PP method had a high intraobserver reproducibility (correlation coefficient of 0.93, < 0.05). PP and subjective evaluations revealed strong intraobserver reproducibility for the origin of deviation (Cramer coefficients of 0.4 and 0.5, respectively; < 0.05). There was strong agreement between PP and subjective evaluation for establishing the origin of deviation for all readers (Cramer coefficient 0.41; < 0.05). Conversely, interobserver reproducibility for PP and subjective evaluations was low (Kappa values of 0.26 and 0.20, respectively; < 0.05). Higher variability of PP_Angle was found in limbs with lateral bowing of the distal radius. Unassigned: The results of this study suggest that the PP method can reliably be used by the same reader for follow-up of carpal deformities and that there is no need to draw lines if the only required information is the origin of deviation, while measurements by different readers on the same patient may be misleading.
Copyright © 2024 Charles, Peeters, Verbrugghe, Vandersmissen, Evrard and Busoni.
Publication Date: 2024-11-07 PubMed ID: 39575434PubMed Central: PMC11580256DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1479790Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study focuses on the efficacy and reliability of a radiographical method, known as The Pivot Point (PP), in assessing carpal deformities in young foals. It underscores the importance of understanding this method’s reproducibility within and between different observers and its agreement with subjective radiographical evaluations.
Study Design
- In this research, anonymous radiographs of foals with carpal deformities were retrospectively scrutinized by six independent readings.
- Readers, firstly, recognized the origin of the deformity subjectively and then applied the PP method. They also computed the angle of deviation (PP_Angle).
- A second reading, performed in a different randomized sequence, was conducted at least two weeks post the initial reading. The radiographs with the greatest variability in PP_Angle measurements were examined by two other radiologists.
Outcomes & Interpretation
- Data from 52 radiographs from 25 foals were evaluated and it was found that the PP method showcases good intraobserver reproducibility, with no considerable disparities detected between the first and second readings by the same reader.
- The deviation angle measurement using the PP method was also found to possess high intraobserver reproducibility, as evidenced by the correlation coefficient of 0.93.
- Both the Pivot Point technology and subjective estimations displayed strong intraobserver reproducibility while determining the deviation’s origin, as indicated by the Cramer coefficients.
- A strong agreement between the PP and the subjective evaluation was witnessed for establishing the deviation’s origin amongst all readers.
- On the contrary, interobserver reproducibility for both subjective evaluations and the PP method were low, as indicated by the recorded Kappa values, implying that measurements taken by different observers on the same patient may be misleading.
- The study discovered a higher variability of PP_Angle in the limbs having lateral bowing of the distal radius.
Conclusions
- This research concludes that the Pivot Point method can be reliably employed by the same reader for monitoring carpal deformities in foals.
- It also illuminates the fact there is no need for drawing lines for information pertaining solely to the origin of deviation.
- However, deformity measurements by various readers on the same foal may prove to be deceptive.
Cite This Article
APA
Charles A, Peeters X, Verbrugghe C, Vandersmissen M, Evrard L, Busoni V.
(2024).
Reproducibility and agreement of radiographic assessment of carpal deformities in foals.
Front Vet Sci, 11, 1479790.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1479790 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Medical Imaging, Clinical Department of Equids, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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