Validation of Measuring Pi Using Ct and a Comparison With Whole Spine and Lumbosacral X-Rays

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe a new, extremely simple method for measuring pelvic incidence (PI) using computed tomography (CT) and to compare those measurements with measurements derived from whole spine and lumbosacral X-rays in a Brazilian population. Methods: Patients who had whole spine and lumbosacral X-rays and whole abdomen, pelvis, or lumbar spine CT performed within a period of less than three months were selected. Image overlay was used to measure PI from the CT. The PI was calculated by two independent examiners, and the PI for each exam was calculated twice, with an interval of two months between the assessments. The intra- and interexaminer reliability and reproducibility were evaluatedusing the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the repeatability coefficient, considering a 95% confidence interval. Results: Fifty-five patients of both sexes with a mean age of 58.7 years (±19) were analyzed. The mean PI angles in the analyses of both examiners at both evaluations were 54.85° (±13.73) for the whole spine X-ray, 54.06° (±11.67) for the lumbosacral spine X-ray, and 49.96° (±9.85) for the CT. There was good intra- and interexaminer reliability and reproducibility. There was also high concordancewith the whole spine and lumbosacral X-rays. Conclusion: CT is a reliable and reproducible alternative for measuring PI. Level of Evidence III; Prospective comparative.