Abstract
Aim:
To simplify sagittal plane spinal assessment by describing a single novel angle in the lumbar spine equivalent to the difference between pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) and evaluate its reliability.
Methods:
New sagittal modifiers in the classification of adult degenerative spinal deformity have been shown to be valid and reliable with the greatest variability being for pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis (PI-LL). This measurement can be simplified to a new angle (alpha) without the need to determine either PI or LL. This angle is between a line intersecting the bicoxofemoral centre and perpendicular to the L1 endplate (alpha line) and a line from the bicoxofemoral centre to the centre of the sacral endplate. Two readers graded 40 non-premarked cases twice each, approximately 1 week apart. Inter- and intra-rater variability and agreement were determined for PI-LL and alpha angle separately. Fleiss' kappa was used for reliability measures.
Results:
Inter-rater kappa for PI-LL showed substantial reliability and alpha angle showed almost perfect agreement. Intra-rater kappa showed substantial reliability for PI-LL but almost perfect agreement for alpha angle across both readers.
Discussion:
Alpha angle can be used as a surrogate for PI-LL and is easier and more reliable to measure. When PI=LL, alpha angle is 0, so the alpha line bisects the sacral plate.
Conflict Of Interest Statement: No conflict of interest.
