J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Jun; 22(5): 309-15.

Chiropractic biophysics digitized radiographic mensuration analysis of the anteroposterior lumbopelvic view: a reliability study.

Troyanovich SJ, Harrison SO, Harrison DD, Harrison DE, Payne MR, Janik TJ, Holland B.

CBP Non-profit, Inc., Harvest, Alabama, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability of a radiographic measurement procedure that uses a computer and sonic digitizer to determine projected spinal displacements from an ideal normal position. DESIGN: A blind, repeated-measure design was used. Anteroposterior lumbopelvic radiographs were presented to each of 3 examiners in random order. Each film was digitized, and the films were randomized for a second run. SETTING: Private, primary-care chiropractic clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The angle of the sacral base in comparison to a true horizontal line (horizontal base angle), lumbodorsal angle, lumbosacral angle, and the thoracic translational displacement from true vertical determined as the perpendicular distance from the center of T12 to a vertical axis line drawn from the center of the S1 spinous process cephalad and parallel to the lateral edge of the x-ray film. RESULTS: Intraexaminer reliability for the (a) horizontal base angle was .72 to .94, with confidence intervals included in the range of .52 to .97; (b) lumbodorsal angle was .90 to .96, with confidence intervals in the range of .82 to .98; (c) lumbosacral angle was .84 to .96, with confidence intervals in the range of .72 to .98, and (d) thoracic translational displacement from vertical was .95 to.97, with confidence intervals included in the range of .91 to .99. Interexaminer reliability for the three examiners ranged from .71 to .97. CONCLUSIONS: Measures similar to those described in this study are commonly used to measure and categorize spinal displacements from true vertical alignment (ie, scoliosis measurements). Most patient assessment methods used in chiropractic have poor or unknown reliability. The one possible exception to this rule is spinal displacement analysis performed on radiographs. In chiropractic, intraclass correlation coefficients values greater than .70 are considered accurate enough for use in clinical and research applications. The measures tested here would fit within these guidelines of reliability. Establishing reliability is an important first step in evaluating these measures so that future studies of validity may be undertaken.