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Feng X, Liu C, Hu DM, Zhang JF, Zheng N, Chi YY, Yu SB, Sui HJ, Xu Q. Magnetic resonance imaging-based classification of the myodural bridge complex and its influencing factors. Surg Radiol Anat 2024; 46:125-135. [PMID: 38194160 PMCID: PMC10861613 DOI: 10.1007/s00276-023-03279-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation is considered the third circulation of the human body. Recently, some scholars have proposed the myodural bridge (MDB) as a novel power source for CSF flow. Moreover, the suboccipital muscles can exert a driving force on the CSF via the MDB. This hypothesis is directly supported by head rotation and nodding movements, which can affect CSF circulation. The MDB has been validated as a normal structure in humans and mammals. In addition, the fusion of MDB fibers of different origins that act in concert with each other forms the MDB complex (MDBC). The MDBC may be associated with several CSF disorder-related neurological disorders in clinical practice. Therefore, the morphology of the MDBC and its influencing factors must be determined. In this study, T2-weighted imaging sagittal images of the cervical region were analyzed retrospectively in 1085 patients, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typing of the MDBC was performed according to the imaging features of the MDBC in the posterior atlanto-occipital interspace (PAOiS) and posterior atlanto-axial interspace (PAAiS). The effects of age and age-related degenerative changes in the cervical spine on MRI staging of the MDBC were also determined. The results revealed four MRI types of the MDBC: type A (no MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in either the PAOiS or PAAiS), type B (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in the PAOiS only), type C (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in the PAAiS only), and type D (MDBC hyposignal shadow connected to the dura mater in both the PAOiS and PAAiS). The influencing factors for the MDBC typing were age (group), degree of intervertebral space stenosis, dorsal osteophytosis, and degenerative changes in the cervical spine (P < 0.05). With increasing age (10-year interval), the incidence of type B MDBC markedly decreased, whereas that of type A MDBC increased considerably. With the deepening of the degree of intervertebral space stenosis, the incidence of type C MDBC increased significantly, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased. In the presence of dorsal osteophytosis, the incidence of type C and D MDBCs significantly decreased, whereas that of type A increased. In the presence of protrusion of the intervertebral disc, the incidence of type B, C, and D MDBCs increased markedly, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased considerably, with cervical degenerative changes combined with spinal canal stenosis. Moreover, the incidence of both type C and D MDBCs increased, whereas that of type A MDBC decreased. Based on the MRI signal characteristics of the dural side of the MDBC, four types of the MDBC were identified. MDBC typing varies dynamically according to population distribution, depending on age and cervical degeneration (degree of intervertebral space stenosis, vertebral dorsal osteophytosis formation, simple protrusion of intervertebral disc, and cervical degeneration changes combined with spinal canal stenosis, except for the degree of protrusion of the intervertebral disc and the degree of spinal canal stenosis); however, it is not influenced by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Feng
- Postgraduate Training Base, The 967 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinzhou Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Department of Radiology, The 967 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Dong-Mei Hu
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jian-Fei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Nan Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Yan-Yan Chi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Sheng-Bo Yu
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
| | - Hong-Jin Sui
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
| | - Qiang Xu
- Department of Radiology, The 967 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Dalian, 116021, China.
- Postgraduate Training Base, The 967 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinzhou Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China.
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Hurley RW, Adams MCB, Barad M, Bhaskar A, Bhatia A, Chadwick A, Deer TR, Hah J, Hooten WM, Kissoon NR, Lee DW, Mccormick Z, Moon JY, Narouze S, Provenzano DA, Schneider BJ, van Eerd M, Van Zundert J, Wallace MS, Wilson SM, Zhao Z, Cohen SP. Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for cervical spine (facet) joint pain from a multispecialty international working group. PAIN MEDICINE (MALDEN, MASS.) 2021; 22:2443-2524. [PMID: 34788462 PMCID: PMC8633772 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnab281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The past two decades have witnessed a surge in the use of cervical spine joint procedures including joint injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic neck pain, yet many aspects of the procedures remain controversial. METHODS In August 2020, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and the American Academy of Pain Medicine approved and charged the Cervical Joint Working Group to develop neck pain guidelines. Eighteen stakeholder societies were identified, and formal request-for-participation and member nomination letters were sent to those organizations. Participating entities selected panel members and an ad hoc steering committee selected preliminary questions, which were then revised by the full committee. Each question was assigned to a module composed of 4-5 members, who worked with the Subcommittee Lead and the Committee Chairs on preliminary versions, which were sent to the full committee after revisions. We used a modified Delphi method whereby the questions were sent to the committee en bloc and comments were returned in a non-blinded fashion to the Chairs, who incorporated the comments and sent out revised versions until consensus was reached. Before commencing, it was agreed that a recommendation would be noted with >50% agreement among committee members, but a consensus recommendation would require ≥75% agreement. RESULTS Twenty questions were selected, with 100% consensus achieved in committee on 17 topics. Among participating organizations, 14 of 15 that voted approved or supported the guidelines en bloc, with 14 questions being approved with no dissensions or abstentions. Specific questions addressed included the value of clinical presentation and imaging in selecting patients for procedures, whether conservative treatment should be used before injections, whether imaging is necessary for blocks, diagnostic and prognostic value of medial branch blocks and intra-articular joint injections, the effects of sedation and injectate volume on validity, whether facet blocks have therapeutic value, what the ideal cut-off value is for designating a block as positive, how many blocks should be performed before radiofrequency ablation, the orientation of electrodes, whether larger lesions translate into higher success rates, whether stimulation should be used before radiofrequency ablation, how best to mitigate complication risks, if different standards should be applied to clinical practice and trials, and the indications for repeating radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSIONS Cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation may provide benefit to well-selected individuals, with medial branch blocks being more predictive than intra-articular injections. More stringent selection criteria are likely to improve denervation outcomes, but at the expense of false-negatives (ie, lower overall success rate). Clinical trials should be tailored based on objectives, and selection criteria for some may be more stringent than what is ideal in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Hurley
- Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meredith C B Adams
- Anesthesiology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meredith Barad
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Arun Bhaskar
- Anesthesiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Haemodialysis Clinic, Hayes Satellite Unit, Hayes, UK
| | - Anuj Bhatia
- Anesthesia and Pain Management, University of Toronto and University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Chadwick
- Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Timothy R Deer
- Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, West Virginia University - Health Sciences Campus, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jennifer Hah
- Anesthesiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | | | | | - David Wonhee Lee
- Fullerton Orthopaedic Surgery Medical Group, Fullerton, California, USA
| | - Zachary Mccormick
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jee Youn Moon
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Jongno-gu, South Korea
| | - Samer Narouze
- Center for Pain Medicine, Summa Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
| | - David A Provenzano
- Pain Diagnostics and Interventional Care, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pain Diagnostics and Interventional Care, Edgeworth, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Byron J Schneider
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Maarten van Eerd
- Anesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Van Zundert
- Anesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Mark S Wallace
- Anesthesiology, UCSD Medical Center - Thornton Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Zirong Zhao
- Neurology, VA Healthcare Center District of Columbia, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Anesthesia, WRNMMC, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, WRNMMC, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Psychiatry, Pain Medicine Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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3
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Hurley RW, Adams MCB, Barad M, Bhaskar A, Bhatia A, Chadwick A, Deer TR, Hah J, Hooten WM, Kissoon NR, Lee DW, Mccormick Z, Moon JY, Narouze S, Provenzano DA, Schneider BJ, van Eerd M, Van Zundert J, Wallace MS, Wilson SM, Zhao Z, Cohen SP. Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for cervical spine (facet) joint pain from a multispecialty international working group. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2021; 47:3-59. [PMID: 34764220 PMCID: PMC8639967 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2021-103031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background The past two decades have witnessed a surge in the use of cervical spine joint
procedures including joint injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation to treat
chronic neck pain, yet many aspects of the procedures remain controversial. Methods In August 2020, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and the
American Academy of Pain Medicine approved and charged the Cervical Joint Working Group
to develop neck pain guidelines. Eighteen stakeholder societies were identified, and
formal request-for-participation and member nomination letters were sent to those
organizations. Participating entities selected panel members and an ad hoc steering
committee selected preliminary questions, which were then revised by the full committee.
Each question was assigned to a module composed of 4–5 members, who worked with
the Subcommittee Lead and the Committee Chairs on preliminary versions, which were sent
to the full committee after revisions. We used a modified Delphi method whereby the
questions were sent to the committee en bloc and comments were returned in a non-blinded
fashion to the Chairs, who incorporated the comments and sent out revised versions until
consensus was reached. Before commencing, it was agreed that a recommendation would be
noted with >50% agreement among committee members, but a consensus
recommendation would require ≥75% agreement. Results Twenty questions were selected, with 100% consensus achieved in committee on 17
topics. Among participating organizations, 14 of 15 that voted approved or supported the
guidelines en bloc, with 14 questions being approved with no dissensions or abstentions.
Specific questions addressed included the value of clinical presentation and imaging in
selecting patients for procedures, whether conservative treatment should be used before
injections, whether imaging is necessary for blocks, diagnostic and prognostic value of
medial branch blocks and intra-articular joint injections, the effects of sedation and
injectate volume on validity, whether facet blocks have therapeutic value, what the
ideal cut-off value is for designating a block as positive, how many blocks should be
performed before radiofrequency ablation, the orientation of electrodes, whether larger
lesions translate into higher success rates, whether stimulation should be used before
radiofrequency ablation, how best to mitigate complication risks, if different standards
should be applied to clinical practice and trials, and the indications for repeating
radiofrequency ablation. Conclusions Cervical medial branch radiofrequency ablation may provide benefit to well-selected
individuals, with medial branch blocks being more predictive than intra-articular
injections. More stringent selection criteria are likely to improve denervation
outcomes, but at the expense of false-negatives (ie, lower overall success rate).
Clinical trials should be tailored based on objectives, and selection criteria for some
may be more stringent than what is ideal in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Hurley
- Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meredith C B Adams
- Anesthesiology, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meredith Barad
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Arun Bhaskar
- Anesthesiology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Haemodialysis Clinic, Hayes Satellite Unit, Hayes, UK
| | - Anuj Bhatia
- Anesthesia and Pain Management, University of Toronto and University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Chadwick
- Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Timothy R Deer
- Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, West Virginia University - Health Sciences Campus, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Jennifer Hah
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | | | | | - David Wonhee Lee
- Fullerton Orthopaedic Surgery Medical Group, Fullerton, California, USA
| | - Zachary Mccormick
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jee Youn Moon
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Jongno-gu, South Korea
| | - Samer Narouze
- Center for Pain Medicine, Summa Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA
| | - David A Provenzano
- Pain Diagnostics and Interventional Care, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA.,Pain Diagnostics and Interventional Care, Edgeworth, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Byron J Schneider
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Maarten van Eerd
- Anesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Van Zundert
- Anesthesiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Mark S Wallace
- Anesthesiology, UCSD Medical Center - Thornton Hospital, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Zirong Zhao
- Neurology, VA Healthcare Center District of Columbia, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Psychiatry, Pain Medicine Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Malik K, Eseonu KC, Pang D, Fakouri B, Panchmatia JR. Is Preexisting Cervical Degeneration a Risk Factor for Poor Prognosis in Whiplash-Associated Disorder? Int J Spine Surg 2021; 15:710-717. [PMID: 34281955 PMCID: PMC8375694 DOI: 10.14444/8093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The term whiplash describes the acceleration-deceleration mechanism of injury to the cervical spine. Whiplash injuries present with a variety of clinical and psychological manifestations, collectively termed as whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). Although largely self-limiting, some patients may experience long-lasting symptoms. This review aimed to summarize the current literature regarding the predictive value of cervical degeneration in the prognosis of patients with WAD. METHODS A comprehensive search of the literature was performed. Nine studies were identified, including 894 patients, with an age range between 16 and 76 years. RESULTS A statistically significant association was found between moderate facet joint degeneration and nonrecovery. Although no association was established between isolated disc degeneration and nonrecovery, total cervical degeneration (facet joint + disc degeneration) was shown to correlate with nonrecovery.All included studies demonstrated the lack of correlation between preexisting disc degeneration and clinical outcomes. Four studies showed a significant correlation between cervical degeneration and poor prognosis following whiplash injury. A significantly higher proportion of patients who remained symptomatic at 2 years following a whiplash injury had preexisting degenerative changes. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the presence of significant variability in the existing literature concerning WAD in terms of study methodology, definitions of cervical degeneration, and outcome measures. Degenerative changes of the facet joint lead to alterations in its biomechanics. Several cadaveric, biomechanical, and clinical studies have demonstrated facet joints as a source of pain in patients with chronic WAD. We present moderate evidence to suggest that preexisting facet joint degeneration is a negative prognostic indicator for long-lasting symptoms in WAD. Conversely, preexisting disc degeneration is not associated with chronicity of WAD symptoms. We propose facet joint instability due to facet joint capsule rupture as a potential mechanism for nonrecovery. Further studies are needed to inform our knowledge of the long-term sequelae of WAD among patients with preexisting cervicalspine degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Malik
- Speciality Registrar, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - K. C. Eseonu
- Senior Spinal Fellow, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - D. Pang
- Consultant Pain Physician, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - B. Fakouri
- Consultant Spine Surgeon and Lead for Spine Surgery, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - J. R. Panchmatia
- Consultant Spine Surgeon, Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
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The Long-term Impact of Whiplash Injuries on Patient Symptoms and the Associated Degenerative Changes Detected Using MRI: A Prospective 20-year Follow-up Study Comparing Patients with Whiplash-associated Disorders with Asymptomatic Subjects. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021; 46:710-716. [PMID: 33394988 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000003901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN A longitudinal, 20-year comparative study of patients with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to clarify the long-term impact of WAD on patient symptoms and on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the cervical spine, in comparison with asymptomatic volunteers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The long-term impact of WAD has not been fully elucidated. METHODS Between 1993 and 1996, we conducted a cross-sectional comparative study of 508 acute WAD patients and 497 asymptomatic volunteers, all of whom underwent MRI on cervical spine and physical examinations. For this 20-year follow-up comparative study, 75 WAD patients and 181 control subjects aged <60 years were recruited from the original cohort. The MRI findings, including discs' signal intensities, posterior disc protrusions, anterior dural compressions, spinal cord disc space narrowing, and foraminal stenoses, were evaluated using two to four numerical grades. The results of the WAD patients and control subjects were compared. RESULTS In this follow-up, the prevalence of shoulder stiffness (72.0% vs. 45.9%), headache (24.0% vs. 12.2%), and arm pain (13.3% vs. 3.9%) were significantly greater in WAD patients than in control subjects. The multiregression analysis revealed that a history of WAD was associated with shoulder stiffness (odds ratio [OR]: 3.36), headache (OR: 2.39), and arm pain (OR: 3.82). Although MRI findings in WAD patients were more degenerated than in control subjects in the initial study, all MRI findings were similar at the 20-year follow-up. There were no significant correlations between clinical cervical symptoms and progression in each MR finding in either group. CONCLUSION After 20 years, whiplash injuries significantly impacted the residual symptoms of shoulder stiffness, headache, and arm pain when compared with initially asymptomatic volunteers. The progression of degenerative changes in the cervical intervertebral discs after 20 years revealed no association with existing whiplash injuries, neither did the residual cervical-related symptoms.Level of Evidence: 3.
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Abstract
Neck pain and headache are 2 of the most common complications of whiplash injury. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature search on PubMed and Embase for publications reporting on the prevalence of neck pain and headache after whiplash injury. The literature search identified 2709 citations of which 44 contained relevant original data. Of these, 27 studies provided data for the quantitative analysis. For non-population-based studies, the present meta-analysis showed that a pooled relative frequency of neck pain was 84% confidence interval (68%-95%) and a pooled relative frequency of headache was 60% (46%-73%), within 7 days after whiplash injury. At 12 months after injury, 38% (32%-45%) of patients with whiplash still experienced neck pain, while 38% (18%-60%) of whiplash patients reported headache at the same time interval after injury. However, we also found considerable heterogeneity among studies with I-values ranging from 89% to 98% for the aforementioned meta-analyses. We believe that the considerable heterogeneity among studies underscores the need for clear-cut definitions of whiplash injury and standardized reporting guidelines for postwhiplash sequelae such as neck pain and headache. Future studies should seek to optimize these aspects paving the way for a better understanding of the clinical characteristics and natural course of whiplash-associated sequelae.
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Rydman E, Bankler S, Ponzer S, Järnbert-Pettersson H. Quantifying cervical spondylosis: reliability testing of a coherent CT-based scoring system. BMC Med Imaging 2019; 19:45. [PMID: 31146696 PMCID: PMC6543559 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-019-0342-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Grading of degeneration of the cervical spine is of great clinical value, considering the vast amount of radiological investigations that are being done with this query. Despite the fact that Computed Tomography (CT) is frequently used in clinical practice there is today no user-friendly and reliable scoring system for assessment of cervical spondylosis on CT-scans available. The aim of this study was to establish a scoring system for cervical spondylosis based on CT-scans and to test it for reliability. Methods Twenty adult patients undergoing CT of the cervical spine due to neck pain following a motor vehicle accident were included in the study. Three independent raters, i.e. one orthopedic surgeon and two radiologists, assessed their CT-scans. Two of the raters repeated the assessments after three months. A radiographic-based scoring system for cervical disc degeneration, addressing disc height, osteophytes and endplate sclerosis, was applied on CT and tested for reliability. A pre-existing, reliable CT-based scoring system for facet joint degeneration, considering joint space narrowing, osteophytes and irregularity of the articular surface was modified and reevaluated. This in order to develop a coherent CT-based total degeneration score for cervical spondylosis. Results The scoring systems for cervical disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration both exhibited an acceptable or better level of strength of agreement regarding intra- and interrater agreement. The total disc degeneration score showed a moderate level of inter-rater reliability with a kappa-value of 0.47 and a good intra-rater agreement with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) of 0.67 and 0.60 for the two raters performing the assessments. The total facet joint degeneration score showed a moderate level of inter-rater reliability (kappa 0.54) and an excellent intra-rater agreement with ICC 0.75 for one of the raters and fair for the other rater (ICC 0.54). When the total disc and facet joint degeneration score were classified into a three-point total degeneration score the inter-rater agreement was 0.695 and the ICC 0.82 and 0.73 respectively. Conclusions This coherent scoring system assessing both disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration on CT-scans of the cervical spine was shown to meet the standards of reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Rydman
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Department of Orthopedics, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sara Bankler
- Department of Radiology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sari Ponzer
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans Järnbert-Pettersson
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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