Reliability and Reproducibility of CT-Based Facet Joint Measurements in Patients With AOSpine Type A2, A3, and A4 Thoracolumbar Fractures (REFACT)
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.
研究概览
地位
详细说明
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.
研究类型
注册 (估计的)
联系人和位置
学习联系方式
- 姓名：Ivan Lvov, PhD
- 电话号码：+34 654 902 306
- 邮箱：dr.speleolog@gmail.com
研究联系人备份
- 姓名：Vasiliy Karanadze, PhD
- 电话号码：+7 903 565-68-30
- 邮箱：karanadzevneuro@gmail.com
学习地点
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Moscow、俄罗斯、129090
- Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine
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首席研究员：
- Andrey Grin, MD, PhD
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接触：
- Vasiliy Karanadze, MD, PhD
- 电话号码：+7 (495) 280-15-61
- 邮箱：sklif@zdrav.mos.ru
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副研究员：
- Aleksandr Talypov, MD, PhD
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副研究员：
- Anton Kordonsky, MD, PhD
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副研究员：
- Vasily Karandze, MD, PhD
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副研究员：
- Ivan Lvov, MD, PhD
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副研究员：
- Mikhail Kucherov, MD
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副研究员：
- Rinat Abdrafiev, MD
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副研究员：
- Aleksandr Tupikin, MD
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副研究员：
- Ksenia Dmitrenko, MD
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副研究员：
- Maria Nanoyan, MD
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副研究员：
- Olga Minkina, MD
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副研究员：
- Layla Khamidova, MD, PhD
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副研究员：
- Roman Elokhovskiy, MD, PhD
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参与标准
资格标准
适合学习的年龄
- 成人
- 年长者
接受健康志愿者
取样方法
研究人群
描述
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.
学习计划
研究是如何设计的？
设计细节
队列和干预
团体/队列 |
干预/治疗 |
|---|---|
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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
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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.
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研究衡量的是什么？
主要结果指标
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
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Interobserver Reliability of CT-Based Pathria Grading Scale for Facet Joint Degenerative Changes
大体时间：At baseline CT image review
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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.
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At baseline CT image review
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Interobserver reliability of facet joint angulation measurements
大体时间：At baseline CT image review
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Interobserver reliability of measurement of facet joint angulation in the axial plane on thoracolumbar CT scans, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
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At baseline CT image review
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Interobserver reliability of facet joint space width measurements
大体时间：At baseline CT image review
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Interobserver reliability of quantitative measurement of mean facet joint space width assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
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At baseline CT image review
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次要结果测量
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
|---|---|---|
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Intraobserver Reliability of CT-Based Pathria Grading Scale for Facet Joint Degenerative Changes
大体时间：At baseline and 1 month later
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Intraobserver agreement for grading facet joint degenerative changes on thoracolumbar CT scans using the 4-grade Pathria classification, assessed on repeated review.
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At baseline and 1 month later
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Intraobserver reliability of facet joint angulation measurements
大体时间：At baseline and 1 month later
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Intraobserver reliability of repeated measurement of facet joint angulation in the axial plane on thoracolumbar CT scans, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
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At baseline and 1 month later
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Intraobserver reliability of facet joint space width measurements
大体时间：At baseline and 1 month later
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Intraobserver reliability of repeated quantitative measurement of mean facet joint space width, assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
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At baseline and 1 month later
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合作者和调查者
研究记录日期
研究主要日期
学习开始 (估计的)
初级完成 (估计的)
研究完成 (估计的)
研究注册日期
首次提交
首先提交符合 QC 标准的
首次发布 (实际的)
研究记录更新
最后更新发布 (实际的)
上次提交的符合 QC 标准的更新
最后验证
更多信息
与本研究相关的术语
其他研究编号
- SKL052026
计划个人参与者数据 (IPD)
计划共享个人参与者数据 (IPD)？
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