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Reliability and Reproducibility of CT-Based Facet Joint Measurements in Patients With AOSpine Type A2, A3, and A4 Thoracolumbar Fractures (REFACT)

13 juli 2026 bijgewerkt door: Ivan Lvov, MD, PhD, Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Care

The Reliability Evaluation of Facet joint Assessment by Computed Tomography in thoracolumbar fractures (REFACT) study aims to evaluate how consistently different specialists assess thoracolumbar facet joints on computed tomography (CT) images in patients with AOSpine type A2, A3, or A4 thoracolumbar fractures.

The main questions are:

  • How consistently do different raters classify facet joint degeneration using the Pathria grading system?
  • How consistently do different raters measure facet joint angle and mean facet joint space width on CT images?
  • How reproducible are these assessments when the same rater repeats the measurements after a one-month interval?

The study will use anonymized retrospective CT DICOM datasets obtained from the institutional imaging archive. Six independent raters (three neurosurgeons and three radiology specialists) will evaluate the same CT datasets using a standardized measurement protocol. Each rater will perform two independent assessment rounds separated by a one-month washout period. The results will be used to determine the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of qualitative and quantitative CT-based facet joint assessment methods.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Nog niet aan het werven

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

The Reliability Evaluation of Facet joint Assessment by Computed Tomography in thoracolumbar fractures (REFACT) study is an imaging-based, multirater reliability study designed to evaluate the reproducibility of computed tomography-based assessment of thoracolumbar facet joints.

The study represents the methodological stage of a broader research program investigating longitudinal degenerative changes in the facet joints after surgical or conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. Before changes in facet joint morphology can be interpreted over time, the reliability of the imaging assessment methods must first be established in the target patient population.

Anonymized CT DICOM datasets will be selected from the institutional imaging archive of the Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine. The datasets will include patients with AOSpine type A2, A3, or A4 thoracolumbar junction fractures and will cover the anatomical levels required for standardized facet joint assessment. No additional imaging, patient contact, study-specific treatment, or prospective clinical intervention will be performed.

Six independent raters will participate in the study: three neurosurgeons and three specialists in radiology or CT imaging. All raters will use the same standardized assessment protocol and the same DICOM viewing software.

Before the formal assessment, the raters will participate in a joint training session using one representative anonymized CT dataset that will not be included in the main analysis. The session will be used to demonstrate the assessment procedure, standardize image orientation and vertebral level identification, clarify the interpretation of the Pathria grading system, and review the procedures for measuring facet joint angle and facet joint space width. Any ambiguities in the assessment instructions will be resolved before the formal study begins.

During the first assessment round, each rater will independently evaluate the same anonymized CT datasets. The order of the datasets will be randomized separately for each rater. Raters will record the Pathria grade of facet joint degeneration and quantitative facet joint measurements according to the standardized protocol.

After a one-month washout interval, the same CT datasets will be re-randomized and reassessed independently by the same six raters during a second assessment round. The changed order and washout period are intended to reduce recall bias and allow evaluation of the reproducibility of repeated assessments by the same rater.

Throughout both assessment rounds, raters will be blinded to patient identifiers, clinical information, previous measurements, and the assessments of the other raters. Raters will not discuss individual study cases or measurement decisions until both rounds have been completed.

The study will evaluate agreement across different raters and the consistency of repeated assessments by the same rater. The assessment will include both ordinal grading of facet joint degeneration and continuous morphometric measurements. Exploratory analyses may examine whether reliability differs according to rater specialty, vertebral level, or anatomical side.

All study data will be entered into a standardized data collection form and stored in a restricted-access institutional database. Missing, technically inadequate, or non-evaluable assessments will not be imputed and will be reported descriptively.

Because the study uses only previously acquired, anonymized imaging data, participants will not undergo any study-related procedures and will not be exposed to additional radiation or treatment-related risk.

Studietype

Observationeel

Inschrijving (Geschat)

12

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Contact Back-up

Studie Locaties

  • Rusland
      • Moscow, Rusland, 129090
        • Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine
        • Hoofdonderzoeker:
          • Andrey Grin, MD, PhD
        • Contact:
          • Vasiliy Karanadze, MD, PhD
          • Telefoonnummer: +7 (495) 280-15-61
          • E-mail: sklif@zdrav.mos.ru
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Aleksandr Talypov, MD, PhD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Anton Kordonsky, MD, PhD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Vasily Karandze, MD, PhD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Ivan Lvov, MD, PhD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Mikhail Kucherov, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Rinat Abdrafiev, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Aleksandr Tupikin, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Ksenia Dmitrenko, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Maria Nanoyan, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Olga Minkina, MD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Layla Khamidova, MD, PhD
        • Onderonderzoeker:
          • Roman Elokhovskiy, MD, PhD

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Bemonsteringsmethode

Niet-waarschijnlijkheidssteekproef

Studie Bevolking

The study population will consist of patients aged 18 to 50 years with AOSpine type A2, A3, or A4 thoracolumbar fractures whose previously acquired CT examinations are available in the institutional imaging archive. Eligible CT datasets must cover vertebral levels T9 through L3 and be suitable for standardized facet joint assessment. The study will use anonymized retrospective imaging data only; there will be no direct patient recruitment, additional imaging, treatment allocation, or other study-specific intervention. CT datasets will be selected according to predefined eligibility criteria until at least 142 evaluable facet joints are available for analysis.

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • patient age from 18 to 50 years;
  • thoracolumbar fracture classified as AOSpine type A2, A3, or A4;
  • availability of CT images covering vertebral levels from Th9 to L3;
  • absence of imaging artifacts at the levels planned for assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • bone density of the thoracolumbar junction vertebrae below 100 HU;
  • systemic bone or joint disorders associated with changes in the FJs or intervertebral discs, including diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other comparable conditions;
  • previous spinal surgery, including procedures performed without implants;
  • fractures with distraction or translational injury of the posterior supporting column.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

Cohorten en interventies

Groep / Cohort
Interventie / Behandeling
CT Image Review Cohort
Anonymized CT scans of the thoracolumbar spine (T9-L3) obtained from eligible patients aged 18 to 65 years and reviewed independently by six raters to assess inter-rater and intra-rater reproducibility of CT-based evaluation of facet joint and intervertebral disc degenerative changes
Diagnostische toets: Computed Tomography Image Review
Independent review of anonymized thoracolumbar CT scans by six raters for assessment of degenerative changes in facet joints and intervertebral discs using the Pathria scale, as well as measurement of facet joint space width and angulation.

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Interobserver Reliability of CT-Based Pathria Grading Scale for Facet Joint Degenerative Changes
Tijdsspanne: At baseline CT image review
Interobserver agreement for grading facet joint degenerative changes on thoracolumbar CT scans using the 4-grade Pathria classification, assessed by Fleiss' kappa across six raters.
At baseline CT image review
Interobserver reliability of facet joint angulation measurements
Tijdsspanne: At baseline CT image review
Interobserver reliability of measurement of facet joint angulation in the axial plane on thoracolumbar CT scans, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
At baseline CT image review
Interobserver reliability of facet joint space width measurements
Tijdsspanne: At baseline CT image review
Interobserver reliability of quantitative measurement of mean facet joint space width assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
At baseline CT image review

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Intraobserver Reliability of CT-Based Pathria Grading Scale for Facet Joint Degenerative Changes
Tijdsspanne: At baseline and 1 month later
Intraobserver agreement for grading facet joint degenerative changes on thoracolumbar CT scans using the 4-grade Pathria classification, assessed on repeated review.
At baseline and 1 month later
Intraobserver reliability of facet joint angulation measurements
Tijdsspanne: At baseline and 1 month later
Intraobserver reliability of repeated measurement of facet joint angulation in the axial plane on thoracolumbar CT scans, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
At baseline and 1 month later
Intraobserver reliability of facet joint space width measurements
Tijdsspanne: At baseline and 1 month later
Intraobserver reliability of repeated quantitative measurement of mean facet joint space width, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
At baseline and 1 month later

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Care

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Geschat)

1 augustus 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 november 2026

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 december 2026

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

16 juni 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

22 juni 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

25 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

15 juli 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

13 juli 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juli 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • SKL052026

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

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