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01-01-2020 | Computed Tomography | Original Article

Automatic rib unfolding in postmortem computed tomography: diagnostic evaluation of the OpenRib software compared with the autopsy in the detection of rib fractures

Authors: Martin Kolopp, Nicolas Douis, Ayla Urbaneja, Cédric Baumann, Pedro Augusto Gondim Teixeira, Alain Blum, Laurent Martrille

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Objectives

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the OpenRib software against the gold standard of autopsy in the detection of rib fractures. The secondary objective was to measure inter-rater agreement between each radiological reader.

Materials and methods

Thirty-six subjects who underwent postmortem CT and autopsy were included in this study. Rib fractures were first assessed during the autopsy by carefully dissecting and examining each rib. They were also independently evaluated by three readers using OpenRib software. This software produces from postmortem CT images a reformat of the rib cage and a display of all ribs in a single plane. Each reader was asked to determine if the rib was fractured and, if so, whether the fracture was single or multiple.

Results

After exclusions, 649 ribs were included in the statistical analysis. The two readers with a similar level of experience showed a satisfactory inter-rater agreement and a sensitivity of 0.73 and 0.83 with a specificity of 0.95 and 0.91. However, the experienced reader diagnosed significantly more fractures than the autopsy and the other two readers (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The use of automatic rib unfolding software in postmortem CT allows an efficient and accurate assessment of rib fractures and enables the diagnosis of fractures that cannot be detected during a standard autopsy. For now, this method seems to be the simplest that can be routinely performed; however, it requires training time in order to be sufficiently effective.

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Title: Automatic rib unfolding in postmortem computed tomography: diagnostic evaluation of the OpenRib software compared with the autopsy in the detection of rib fractures
Authors: Martin Kolopp
Nicolas Douis
Ayla Urbaneja
Cédric Baumann
Pedro Augusto Gondim Teixeira
Alain Blum
Laurent Martrille
Publication date: 01-01-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Computed Tomography
Autopsy
Computed Tomography
Rib Fracture
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02195-x

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Automatic rib unfolding in postmortem computed tomography: diagnostic evaluation of the OpenRib software compared with the autopsy in the detection of rib fractures

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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