Inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of the Harris hip scoring system

OBJECTIVE: The Harris hip score (HHS) is a 100-point scale for rating pain, function, absence of deformity, and range of motion. The purpose of this study is to assess the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of the Harris hip score among senior orthopedic residents at the Philippine General Hospital. METHODS: Twenty-four hips from 20 patients were evaluated using the Harris hip score by four senior residents from the Department of Orthopedics, Philippine General Hospital. All patients were interviewed twice in the clinic and the reliability of the HHS was evaluated. RESULTS: The inter-observer coefficient of concordance (Kendall coefficient of concordance W) was 0.9 for both groups of observers. The intra-observer coefficients of concordance were 0.8, 1.0, 0.9, and 0.9, for the four observers. A 0 value indicates no concordance among a set of raters while a score of 1 indicates perfect concordance. Obtaining a score greater than 0.75 represents excellent level of agreement. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Harris hip score has high interobserver and inter-observer reliability among senior Orthopedic residents at the Philippine General Hospital.

Reprodutibilidade intra e interobservadores no ângulo de cobb em indivíduos escolióticos / Intra-and interobserver reproducibility in the Cobb angle in scoliosis patients

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a variabilidade intra e interobservador do método de Cobb em indivíduos escolióticos. Foram avaliadas trinta e quatro radiografias de sujeitos com escoliose para mensuração do ângulo de Cobb. A avaliação intraobservador foi realizada por um avaliador, enquanto a avaliação interobservador foi realizada por três avaliadores. Foram controlados possíveis erros intrínsecos e extrínsecos de mensuração, mas não houve a pré-seleção das vértebras que caracterizam a escoliose. A concordância intra e interobservador foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (p < 0,05). Não houve diferenças significativas de julgamento na condição intra e interobservadores. A magnitude dos coeficientes de correlação oscilou de bom até excelente nos níveis torácico e tóraco-lombar. Na coluna lombar não houve correlação em ambas as condições

Inter- and Intra-observer Reliability of MRI for Lumbar Lateral Disc Herniation

BACKGROUND: The authors analyzed inter- and intra-observer agreement with respect to interpretation of simple magnetic resonance T1- and T2-weighted axial and sagittal images for the diagnosis of lumbar lateral disc herniation, including foraminal and extraforaminal disc herniations. METHODS: Forty-two patients in whom lumbar lateral disc herniation was suspected or confirmed by simple magnetic resonance imaging at one institute between May 2003 and December 2004 were included. The magnetic resonance images consisting of T1- and T2-weighted axial and sagittal images, and these were reviewed blindly and independently by three orthopaedic spine surgeons in a random manner. The images were interpreted as positive or negative for lateral disc herniation on 2 different occasions 3 months apart. Results were analyzed using Cohen's kappa statistic, and strengths of agreements were determined using the Landis and Koch criteria. RESULTS: The kappa values for inter-observer agreement averaged 0.234 (0.282, 0.111, and 0.308 respectively) on the first occasion, and 0.166 (0.249, 0.111, and 0.137 respectively) on the second occasion, with an overall mean value of 0.200. Thus, the strength of agreement was only slight-to-fair according to the Landis and Koch criteria. Kappa values for intra-observer agreement averaged 0.479 (0.488, 0.491, and 0.459 respectively), indicating moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that simple magnetic resonance imaging is not a reliable imaging modality for diagnosing lumbar lateral disc herniation. Another imaging study with improved diagnostic values should be developed to diagnose this pathologic finding.