ABSTRACT
Scoliosis is defined as a deformity with lateral deviation of the spine in the coronal plane, torsion of the spine and trunk, and disturbances in the sagittal profile. This postural alteration is evaluated by anteroposterior incidence radiography using the Cobb method. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of evaluator experience on inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Cobb angle of scoliosis curvatures in children. In total, 39 patients aged 7 to 18 years with idiopathic scoliosis were included in this study. The exams were evaluated by two physical therapists, a chiropractor and a physical therapy student. Each evaluator rated each exam twice and the second evaluation occurred after seven days, characterizing the intra-rater reliability. Furthermore, the first evaluations provided the inter-rater reliability. Statistical analysis was performed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis, descriptive analysis of mean absolute deviation, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable chance. Correlations ranged from good (ICC>0.5) for intra-rater reliability among professionals to weak (ICC=0.4) for the inexperienced evaluator. The inter-rater reliability of the professional’s evaluations was good (ICC=0.6) and the same analysis with the presence of an inexperienced evaluator was weak (ICC=0.3). Evaluations among professionals showed less variability of measurements and standard deviation values compared to the inexperienced evaluator. The measurement of the angles of the scoliosis through the Cobb method carried out by experienced professionals showed better agreement as well as intra- and inter-rater reliability, lower standard deviation, and variability among the measurements.
Keywords |
Spine; X-Rays; Reproducibility of Results