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Radiographic Versus Dry Bone Assessment of Sacral Epiphyses
Author(s) -
Fojas Christina,
Collins Stefania,
Shirley Natalie
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.866.9
Subject(s) - radiography , medicine , concordance , kappa , bone age , orthodontics , radiological weapon , radiology , anatomy , mathematics , geometry
This study evaluates epiphyseal union assessments on radiographs versus dry bone to determine if concordance is sufficient for interchangeable use of age estimation standards developed from either medium. Radiographs are used in pediatrics to evaluate growth trajectories, and skeletal maturation stage is used to estimate age in medicolegal contexts. Researchers have suggested the potential for discordance between radiographic and dry bone epiphyseal union assessments (i.e. fusion may be detectable earlier on radiographs). The four intersegmental epiphyses on sacra from the Hamann‐Todd Collection were scored by three observers with varying levels of experience (n=48 sacra, 192 epiphyses). Dry bones and radiographs of the bones were scored as unfused, fusing, or fused. Linear weighted kappa values reveal moderate to substantial agreement in the radiograph versus dry bone fusion scores of the two most experienced observers (0.45‐0.80). Kappa values for the novice observer's scores ranged from slight to fair (0.028‐0.36), indicating that experience level greatly affects the ability to accurately assess epiphyseal union. Contradictory to expectations, bias analyses revealed that observers tend to score bony fusion as more advanced than radiographic fusion. Practitioners are encouraged to exercise caution when using age standards developed on osteological material to interpret radiological findings.