Goniometric evaluation of the spinal sagittal curves in children and adolescents: A reliability study

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Gold standard for spine deformities assessment is X rays, but the procedure bears a risk of exposure.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a pocket compass needle goniometer (IncliMed^®, University of Padua) to non-invasively evaluate spine curves in children and adolescents.

METHODS:

Prospective reliability study in a paediatric population(mean age 12.5 years ± 2.5). Children with spine deformities(Scheuermann's or postural kyphosis, idiopathic scoliosis) and healthy controls were included. Two physician measured spinal curves with the surface goniometer IncliMed^® within a temporal range of 10 minutes. Participants were re-tested after a mean of 28 days for the intra-rater study. Agreement limit and coefficient of repeatability were calculated according to the linear regression analysis; the Bland and Altman method was applied to obtain average of differences and standard error of the mean of the differences.

RESULTS:

One hundred and thirty-nine subjects participated to the inter-rater reliability assessment; 30 to the intra-rater reliability assessment. Inter-observer variability for IncliMed^® measurements was ± 11° both for kyphosis and for lordosis. The intra-observer variability for kyphosis and lordosis measurements was ± 11° and ± 12°.

CONCLUSIONS:

IncliMed^® is a reliable, non-invasive tool to screen and monitor spinal curves in paediatric populations.