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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Osteochondrosis | Research article

Evaluation criteria for the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine - how reliable are they? -

Authors: Benjamin Ulmar, Julia Wölfle-Roos, Tugrul Kocak, Alexander Brunner

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

In 2005, the German Association of Occupational Accident Insurance Funds (DGUV) defined radiological evaluation criteria for the assessment of degenerative occupational diseases of the lumbar spine. These include the measurement of intervertebral osteochondrosis and classification of vertebral osteosclerosis, antero-lateral and posterior spondylosis, and spondyloarthritis via plain radiography. The measures currently remain in daily use for determining worker compensation among those with occupational diseases. Here, we aimed to evaluate the inter- and intra-observer reliability of these evaluation criteria.

Methods

We enrolled 100 patients with occupational degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine. Native antero-posterior and lateral radiographs of these patients were evaluated according to DGUV recommendations by 4 observers with different levels of clinical training. Evaluations were again conducted after 2 months to assess the intra-observer reliability.

Results

The measurement of intervertebral osteochondrosis showed good inter-observer reliability (ICC: 0.755) and excellent intra-observer reliability (ICC: 0.827). The classification of vertebral osteosclerosis exhibited moderate kappa values for inter-observer reliability (К: 0.426) and intra-observer reliability (К: 0.441); the remaining 3 criteria showed poor inter- and intra-observer reliabilities.

Conclusion

The measurement of intervertebral osteochondrosis and classification of vertebral osteosclerosis showed adequate inter- and intra-observer reliability in the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine, whereas the classification of antero-lateral and posterior spondylosis and spondyloarthritis stage exhibited insufficient reliability. Hence, we recommend the revision of the DGUV recommendations for the evaluation of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation criteria for the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine - how reliable are they? -
Authors
Benjamin Ulmar
Julia Wölfle-Roos
Tugrul Kocak
Alexander Brunner
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2878-4

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