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The Diagnostic Value of an X-ray-based Scoring System for Degeneration of the Cervical Spine: A Reproducibility and Validation Study
- Source :
- Pain Practice, 21(7), 766-777. Wiley, Pain Practice
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background In interventional pain medicine, cervical facet joint (CFJ) pain is commonly treated with CFJ denervation techniques, almost automatically assuming degeneration of the CFJs as an important cause of CFJ pain. A standard cervical X‐ray is still commonly used in the clinical evaluation of patients suspected for CFJ degeneration. Although degenerative features can be visualized by different radiological imaging techniques, the relation between radiological degenerative features of the cervical spine and pain remains controversial. Paramount in order to estimate the clinical usefulness of a radiological imaging is to establish the reproducibility of the radiological scoring system. A reproducible and clinically feasible diagnostic scoring system was developed to estimate cervical degeneration on standard cervical X‐rays. Materials and Methods A reproducibility study for the interpretation of degenerative abnormalities on standard cervical X‐rays was performed, using a dichotomous outcome (degenerative abnormalities present Yes/No). The estimation of intervertebral disc height loss on standard cervical X‐rays was validated with computed tomography (CT) scan measurements. Results Five radiological degenerative features on standard cervical X‐rays (disc height loss, anterior vertebral osteophytes, posterior vertebral osteophytes, vertebral end plate sclerosis, and uncovertebral osteoarthritis) showed a substantial to excellent reproducibility (kappa value ≥ 0.60). The qualitative definition of disc height loss used in the reproducibility study showed a substantial agreement with the actual measurements of disc height loss on CT scan (kappa value = 0.69). Conclusion Subjective judgment of a cervical standard X‐ray is a reproducible method to demonstrate degenerative abnormalities of the cervical spine.
- Subjects :
- PROTOCOL
medicine.medical_specialty
Scoring system
LUMBAR SPINE
diagnosis
Pain medicine
Osteoarthritis
Degeneration (medical)
Facet joint
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
X‐ray
030202 anesthesiology
cervical pain
FACET JOINTS
facet joint
medicine
Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Reproducibility
business.industry
ray
X-Rays
Reproducibility of Results
PAIN
Intervertebral disc
Original Articles
medicine.disease
STATISTICS
Radiography
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
medicine.anatomical_structure
RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
OSTEOARTHRITIS
Radiological weapon
AGREEMENT
DISC DEGENERATION
Cervical Vertebrae
X‐
Original Article
Radiology
COEFFICIENT
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15332500 and 15307085
- Volume :
- 21
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Pain Practice
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2cf2bcf6bdd2a903e65f04f2aeac32f5