Imaging of glenohumeral osteoarthritis: Reliability and reproducibility of radiological classifications

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Longo, Umile Giuseppe^{a; b} | de Sire, Alessandro^{c; d; *} | De Salvatore, Sergio^{a; b} | Zollo, Giuliano^{a; b} | Di Matteo, Vincenzo^{a; b} | Corradini, Alessandra^a | Ceccaroli, Alice^a | Ammendolia, Valerio^c | Calabrese, Giovanni^{a; b} | D’Hooghe, Pieter^e

Affiliations: [a] Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy | [b] Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy | [c] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy | [d] Research Center on Musculoskeletal Health, MusculoSkeletalHealth@UMG, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy | [e] Aspetar Hospital, Doha, Qatar

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Alessandro de Sire, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. E-mail: alessandro.desire@unicz.it.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Glenohumeral degenerative joint disease may affect up to 20% of the population. There are several classification systems of this disease in the scientific literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the reliability and reproducibility of glenohumeral osteoarthritis classification systems. METHODS: We assessed glenohumeral plain radiographs performed in a University Hospital. These radiographs were graded into nine radiological classification systems by two observers on two evaluations. Patients who have performed CT/MRI scan were staged according to the Walch classification. The intra-observer and inter-observer reliability of the classification schemes were determined by using Cohen’s weighted kappa coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 752 patients were included in the study (52.4% females and 47.6% males), mean aged 66.2 ± 16.3 years. The intra-observer and inter-observer reliabilities were 0.543 (observer 1), 0.630 (observer 2), and 0.760 (inter-observer) for the Weinstein grading system; 0.661, 0.706, and 0.761 for the Guyette grading system; 0.575, 0.679 and 0.704 for the Kellgren and Lawrence classification; 0.817, 0.816 e 0.871 for the Samilson and Prieto classification; 0.791, 0.811 and 0.847 for the Allain modification; 0.797, 0.842 and 0.860 for the Gerber modification; 0.773, 0.827 and 0.828 for the Buscayret modification; 0.584, 0.648 and 0.755 for the Hawkins and Angelo classification; 0.661, 0.749 and 0.764 for the Rosenberg classification. Intra-observer reliability for MRI was 0.757 (observer 1) and 0.675 (observer 2), while intra-observer reliability for CT was 0.811 (observer 1) and 0.653 (observer 2). Inter-observer reliabilities were 0.790 for MRI and 0.673 for CT. CONCLUSION: The classification systems according to Weinstein, Guyette, Hawkins and Angelo, Rosenberg and the modifications of the Samilson and Prieto classification according to Allain, Gerber and Buscayret showed a comparable reliability with the commonly used glenohumeral osteoarthritis grading systems, Samilson and Prieto and Kellgren and Lawrence. Thus, they are recommended for clinical and especially scientific purposes.

Keywords: Shoulder, glenohumeral osteoarthritis, radiological classifications, Walch classification, CT/MRI scan

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-240187

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 1729-1739, 2024