The value of computerized tomography in determining lumbar facet joint orientation.
The reliability of assessing facet joint obliquity from standard CT scans in the lumbar spine was studied. There was no significant difference in repeated measurements by one single examiner, nor in measurements made by different examiners. Measurement of facet joint obliquity from CT scans made on different occasions was not significantly different either. This reproducibility occurred despite the fact that adjacent CT scans from one joint extremity to the other showed variation in obliquity of about 11%.
Gunzburg
R
R
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia.
Sandhu
A
A
Fraser
R D
RD
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*