Abstract
Aim: To assess intra and inter observer variability in classiþcation of cement bone demarcation around a cemented acetabular component. Method: We collected 46 random triplets of radiographs taken six weeks, one year and a mean of 9.5 years post-operatively. Each of the three observers (1,2,3) evaluated all radiographs independently, and the evaluations were repeated by two observers (a, b) after 2 to 4 weeks. Inter and intra-observer variation was evaluated using the kappa coefthorn;cient of agreement. The strength of agreement was interpreted according to the Landis and Koch method. Results: There was substantial agreement in classiþcation of zone 1 for all time points and of all three zones for the þnal radiographs. Classiþcation of zones 2 and 3 were not reliable until after one year of follow-up. Conclusion: We have shown that zone 1 can be assessed reliably by different observers from the þrst follow-up radiograph. Therefore we recommend that zone 1 demarcation should be used as an index of performance comparable between cemented sockets especially where follow up has been less than ten years.
The BOA recommends clinical and radiological follow-up at þve-yearly intervals in order to detect failing implants. We support this recommendation and have shown that with longer followÐup the assessment of demarcation in all three zones has substantial agreement
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.