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Training improves interobserver reliability for the diagnosis of scaphoid fracture displacement

journal contribution
posted on 2012-07-01, 00:00 authored by G Buijze, T Guitton, C van Dijk, D Ring, Science of Variation Group, Richard PageRichard Page
Background The diagnosis of displacement in scaphoid fractures is notorious for poor interobserver reliability.

Questions/purposes We tested whether training can improve interobserver reliability and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of scaphoid fracture displacement on radiographs and CT scans.

Methods Sixty-four orthopaedic surgeons rated a set of radiographs and CT scans of 10 displaced and 10 nondisplaced scaphoid fractures for the presence of displacement, using a web-based rating application. Before rating, observers were randomized to a training group (34 observers) and a nontraining group (30 observers). The training group received an online training module before the rating session, and the nontraining group did not. Interobserver reliability for training and nontraining was assessed by Siegel’s multirater kappa and the Z-test was used to test for significance.

Results There was a small, but significant difference in the interobserver reliability for displacement ratings in favor of the training group compared with the nontraining group. Ratings of radiographs and CT scans combined resulted in moderate agreement for both groups. The average sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of diagnosing displacement of scaphoid fractures were, respectively, 83%, 85%, and 84% for the nontraining group and 87%, 86%, and 87% for the training group. Assuming a 5% prevalence of fracture displacement, the positive predictive value was 0.23 in the nontraining group and 0.25 in the training group. The negative predictive value was 0.99 in both groups.

Conclusions Our results suggest training can improve interobserver reliability and sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of scaphoid fracture displacement, but the improvements are slight. These findings are encouraging for future research regarding interobserver variation and how to reduce it further.

History

Journal

Clinical orthopaedics and related research

Volume

470

Issue

7

Pagination

2029 - 2034

Publisher

Springer New York LLC

Location

New York, N. Y.

ISSN

0009-921X

eISSN

1528-1132

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, Springer

Editor/Contributor(s)

R Page