Evaluation of an apparatus to be combined with a smartphone for the early detection of spinal deformities

Scoliosis

Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong²  Stefan Parent²  Hubert Labelle²  Chanel Fortier-Tougas¹  Mark Driscoll² 

[1] University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada;Spinologics, Montreal, QC, Canada

关键词: Diagnosis;    Angle of trunk inclination;    Smartphone;    Screening;    Early detection;    Scoliosis;   

Others  :  1139745
DOI  :  10.1186/1748-7161-9-10

 received in 2014-05-26, accepted in 2014-07-16,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Mobile smartphones are equipped with inclinometers enabling them to acquire angular clinical measures. The Scolioscreen has been developed in conjunction with a smartphone APP to enable the measure of the angle of trunk inclination (ATI) thus offering a convenient and reliable means to measure and screen for spinal deformities. The objective was to compare the reliability and accuracy of a Scolioscreen-smartphone combination, a smartphone alone, and a Scoliometer, for measuring the angle of trunk inclination in spinal deformities under blinded conditions for intra- and inter-observer analyses.

Methods

A cohort of 39 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were recruited. Each had maximum ATI measured by 3 observers: attending spine surgeon, nurse, and parent presenting with patient. Two series of measurements were performed by each observer using Scolioscreen-smartphone, smartphone alone and Scoliometer. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) from two-way mixed model based on absolute agreement were used to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability as well as consistency between measurement techniques.

Results

Intra- and inter-observer reliability for measuring maximum ATI was 0.94-0.89 with Scolioscreen-smartphone, decreased to 0.89-0.75 for smartphone alone, and was 0.95- 0.89 for Scoliometer. Considering Scoliometer measurement taken by surgeon the gold standard, there was excellent consistency with measurements from Scolioscreen-smartphone taken by surgeon (ICC = 0.99), nurse (ICC = 0.95), and parent (ICC = 0.91). Conversely, consistency decreased when surgeon (ICC = 0.86), nurse (ICC = 0.86) and parent (ICC = 0.85) used smartphone alone.

Conclusion

Study shows the Scolioscreen-smartphone to overcome limitations associated with ATI measurements using smartphones alone. The Scolioscreen-smartphone provides a reliability and consistency similar to the gold standard (use of Scoliometer by spine surgeon) and enables a parent to take reliable measurements on their own thus offering an accessible and convenient tool for all to use.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Driscoll et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination: The periodic health examination. Can Med Assoc J 1979, 121:1193-1254.
• [2]Labelle H, Richards SB, De Kleuver M, Grivas TB, Luk KD, Wong HK, Thometz J, Beauséjour M, Turgeon I, Fong DY: Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: an information statement by the scoliosis research society international task force. Scoliosis 2013, 8(1):17. [Epub ahead of print] BioMed Central Full Text
• [3]Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB: Effects of bracing inadolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. N Eng J Med 2013, 369:1512-1521.
• [4]Richards BS, Vitale MG: Statement: screening for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents: an information statement. J Bone Joint Surg Am 90(1):198.
• [5]Landis JR, Koch GG: The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 1977, 33:159-174.
• [6]Franko O, Bray C, Newton P: Validation of a scoliometer smartphone APP to assess scoliosis. J Pediatr Orthop 2012, 32(8):e72-e75.
• [7]Izatt M, Bateman G, Adam C: Evaluation of the iPhone with an acrylic sleeve versus the Scoliometer for rib hump measurement in scoliosis. Scoliosis 2012, 7:14. BioMed Central Full Text
• [8]Driscoll M, Aubin , Moreau A, Wakula Y, Maini S, Parent S: Novel hemi-staple for the fusionless correction of pediatric scoliosis: influence on intervertebral discs and growth plates in a porcine model. J Spinal Disord TechEpub ahead of print
• [9]Betz R, Andrea L, Mulcahey M, Chafetz R: Vertebral body stapling procedure for the treatment of scoliosis in the growing child. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2005, 434:55-60.
• [10]Braun J, Akyuz E, Ogilvie J, Bachus K: The efficacy and integrity of shape memory alloy staples and bone anchors with ligament tethers in the fusionless treatment of experimental scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2005, 87(9):2038-2051.