This study determined the inter-reader and intra-reader reliability of lower limb frontal plane alignment measures obtained from digital radiographs using a computer software program.

Measurements of lower limb frontal plane alignment were obtained from over 3000 full limb digital radiographs of both limbs of persons ‘at risk’ for developing knee osteoarthritis (OA), as part of the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). Three trained clinicians used a computer software program (Horizon Image Viewer, version 1.5, OAISYS Medical Inc.) to locate bone landmarks on the femur and tibia from which standard measures of alignment (e.g. the Hip-Knee-Ankle (HKA) angle) and bone lengths could be computed.

To assess the reliability of these alignment measurements, one hundred randomly assigned digital radiographs, representing two hundred limbs, were selected from the complete data set for a repeated analysis carried out two or more weeks after completion of the first measurements. Random effects two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) models were applied to estimate the interclass and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), which correspondingly evaluated inter-reader and intra-reader reliability for each of the angles and bone lengths.

High reliability measures were obtained for the HKA angle (inter-reader reliability: ICC=0.995 (95% CI, 0.994–1); intra-reader reliability: ICC= 0.998 (95% CI, 0.998–1)). Reliability for additional angles between the femur and tibia ranged from 0.839 to 0.993 (inter-reader reliability) and 0.908 to 0.998 (intra-reader reliability). High reliability measures were also obtained for bone lengths (inter-reader reliability: ICC from 0.993 to 0.995; intra-reader reliability: ICC from 0.994 to 0.995).

Each of the lower limb alignment and bone length measurements were highly reliable. The outcome supports the use of computer software programs and software tools for analysis of lower limb frontal plane alignment.

Purpose: To compare a computer-based program for measuring frontal plane leg alignment with a hand-measuring system.

Methods: Five patterns of frontal limb alignment, simulating full-length radiographs of healthy and malaligned limbs, were drawn in AutoCAD and exported as digital images. The patterns included variations in varus and valgus alignment and joint space slope. Copies of each pattern were given to 7 trained readers for analysis. The readers used a ruler and protractor to measure predefined angles and lengths following an established method which defines limb and joint margin landmarks to derive mechanical and anatomic (shaft) axes. Custom software was used to define the same landmarks on the digital copies of the patterns; the angles and lengths were calculated by the software, replicating the method above. A simple fixed calibration factor was used to convert the digital linear dimensions to their paper equivalent. The order of hand and computer analysis of the 5 patterns was randomized and each was repeated daily for 3 days. Measured angles included hip-knee-ankle (HKA), femoral condylar tangent-hip (CH), tibial plateau tangent-ankle (PA), condylar-plateau (joint orientation-CP) and angles between the femoral mechanical axis (FM), femoral shaft axis (FS), tibial mechanical axis (TM)and tibial shaft axis (TS). Repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare the methods, with a significance level set at p< 0.05.

Results: The analysis revealed differences between hand and computer measures in femoral lengths and apparent leg lengths (although these differences were less than 1 mm). Differences between methods were also obtained for CP and FM-FS angles (the differences in angles were less than 1 degree). The variance of the computer measures was the same as (19/55 measures) or significantly less than (35/55 measures) the hand measures, with the exception of angle CH on a single pattern. For all limb length measures and the angles HKA, FM-FS, FM-TS and FS-TS there were differences between the readers. There was no difference across days for any measure.

Conclusions: The analysis revealed similar results for limb alignment angles and for limb lengths between hand and computer methods. The computer application improved on the variance obtained with the hand measuring method, indicating a more precise system. Significant differences were found between readers, suggesting the need for standardization of methods for measuring alignment.