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Skeletal Radiology

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01-10-2012 | Scientific Article

Evaluation of a new low-dose biplanar system to assess lower-limb alignment in 3D: a phantom study

Authors: Philippe Thelen, Cyrille Delin, Dominique Folinais, Catherine Radier

Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 10/2012

Abstract

Objective

Knee coronal alignment is routinely assessed on a full-length radiograph of the lower limbs. However, poor positioning of the knee during the procedure affects the accuracy of this kind of measurement, particularly in cases combining knee rotation and flexion. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of a three-dimensional assessment of the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle based on a biplanar radiographic system.

Materials and methods

A biplanar slot scanning system was used to take radiographs of three lower-limb synthetic models with similar frontal deviation (5°valgus) but different flexion angulations (0°, 9°, and 18°). Biplane acquisitions were done with lower-limb axial rotations ranging from 20° of internal rotation to 20° of external rotation on each of the lower limb models. Three independent observers performed standard 2D measurements of the HKA angle from each anteroposterior (AP) image and also modeled the lower limb in 3D for each biplane acquisition with dedicated software. The HKA angle was automatically calculated from the 3D models. The results of the 2D and 3D techniques were compared.

Results

Axial rotation provoked 2D HKA measurement errors up to, respectively, 1.4°, 4.7°, and 6.8° for the lower extremities with 0°, 9°, and 18° flexion, while it never affected the 3D HKA measurement for more than 1.5°. Interobserver errors were 0.7° (SD = 0.5°) for the 2D measurements and 0.6° (SD = 0.4°) for the 3D measurements.

Conclusions

The 3D modeling allows for a more accurate evaluation of coronal alignment compared to 2D, eliminating bias due to wrong knee positioning.

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Title: Evaluation of a new low-dose biplanar system to assess lower-limb alignment in 3D: a phantom study
Authors: Philippe Thelen
Cyrille Delin
Dominique Folinais
Catherine Radier
Publication date: 01-10-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Skeletal Radiology / Issue 10/2012
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1438-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of a new low-dose biplanar system to assess lower-limb alignment in 3D: a phantom study

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

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