Faculty Collaboration Database

Reliability of a functional classification system in the monitoring of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2007 Jul 01;32(15):1662-6

Date

07/11/2007

Pubmed ID

17621215

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e318074d441

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34447343794 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   13 Citations

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Patients with scoliosis from 1999 to 2001 were monitored using radiographs and the Quantec Spinal Imaging System (Quantec) to validate the Functional Classification System (FCS) developed at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of the FCS.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The authors evaluated different noninvasive ways of evaluating the scoliotic spine. The FCS was developed as a means to predict the degree of scoliotic curve.

METHODS: Consecutive scoliosis visits (543) seen at CHW between 1999 and 2001 for initial or follow-up examination were investigated; of them, 157 had an radiograph within 6 months of Quantec. Subjects were placed into groups based on Cobb Angles. FCS classifications were compared to Cobb angle groupings and calculated sensitivity and specificity. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for 39 subjects.

RESULTS: Sensitivity of the FCS for single curve groups ranged from 0.50 to 0.63 and specificity from 0.64 to 0.86. For double curve, both sensitivity and specificity ranged from 0.48 to 0.81. Pearson's correlation was statistically significant (r = 0.45, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity, specificity, and Pearson's correlation coefficient reflect the reliability of the Quantec method. Therefore, the FCS can be considered as a reliable tool for monitoring the progression of scoliosis with reduced need of radiographs.

Author List

Klos SS, Liu XC, Lyon RM, Tassone JC, Thometz JG

Authors

Xue-Cheng Liu PhD Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Roger M. Lyon MD Adjunct Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
J Channing Tassone MD Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
John G. Thometz MD Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Back
Child
Child, Preschool
Disability Evaluation
Humans
Mass Screening
Monitoring, Physiologic
Photogrammetry
Predictive Value of Tests
Radiology
Reproducibility of Results
Scoliosis
Spine