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Computer-aided King classification of scoliosis

Issue title: Papers from the 3rd International Conference on Biomedical Engineering and Technology (iCBEB 2014), 25–28 September 2014, Beijing, China

Subtitle:

Guest editors: Edward J. Ciaccio

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Zhang, Junhuaa; * | Li, Hongjianb | Lv, Liangb | Shi, Xinlinga | Zhang, Yufenga

Affiliations: [a] Department of Electronic Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China | [b] Department of Orthopedics, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Junhua Zhang, Department of Electronic Engineering, Yunnan University, No. 2 Cuihu Road, Kunming 650091, Yunnan, China. Tel./Fax: +86 871 65031301; E-mail:jhzhang_2006@163.com

Keywords: Computer-aided diagnosis, King classification, radiograph, scoliosis

DOI: 10.3233/THC-150977

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 23, no. s2, pp. S411-S417, 2015

Published: 2015
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Surgical planning for scoliosis relies on the classification of spinal curve pattern. The widely used King classification is subject to human measurement and judgment errors. To reduce the variability of King classification, a computer-aided method is proposed and its reliability is evaluated in this study.

METHODS: At the first step, endplate inclination and position of each vertebra are measured by a computerized system on the posteroanterior radiograph. Based on these measurements, the apical and end vertebrae are identified and then the Cobb angles are calculated automatically. The system subsequently classifies the curve types automatically based on the computerized Cobb measurements, the vertebral inclination, and the analysis of the relationship between the center sacral vertical line, and the apical lumbar vertebra. Five observers participated in the experiments. The kappa statistic was used to evaluate the variability.

RESULTS: Classifications of 105 scoliotic cases by the five observers showed that with the aid of our system, the average intraobserver and interobserver kappa values improved from 0.75 to 0.90 and from 0.66 to 0.86, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the proposed computerized system can assist a surgeon with the King classification of scoliosis.

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