title: An application of the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence to the classification of knee function and detection of improvement due to total knee replacement surgery.
abstract: This paper utilises a novel method for the classification of subjects with osteoarthritic and normal knee function. The classification method comprises a number of different components. Firstly, the method exploits the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence allowing for a degree of ignorance in the subject's classification, i.e., a level of uncertainty as to whether a gait variable indicates osteoarthritis or not. Secondly, the inclusion of simplex plots allows both the classification of a subject, and the contribution of each associated gait variable to that classification, to be represented visually. As a result, the method is further able to highlight periodic changes in a subject's knee function due to total knee replacement surgery and subsequent recovery. The visual representation enables a simple clinical interpretation of the results from the quantitative analysis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University, The Parade, PO BOX 925, Cardiff CF24 0YF, UK. JonesL25@Cardiff.ac.uk <JonesL25@Cardiff.ac.uk>
authors.forename: Lianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Malcolm J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged