Affiliations: Department of Neuroscience-DSN, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Alessandra Del Felice, Department of Neuroscience-DSN, Section of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 3, 35128 Padova, Italy. Tel.: +39 049 8211270; Fax: +39 049 8211271; E-mail:alessandra.delfelice@unipd.it
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.
