Normative reference values of joint space width estimated by computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA): the distal interphalangeal joint.
OBJECTIVE
The study introduces reference data for a computer-aided analysis. The semiautomated computer-aided diagnostic system provides the estimation of joint space width at the distal interphalangeal joints, considering gender-specific and age-related changes.


METHODS
869 subjects (351 female/518 male) with hand x-rays were included and underwent measurements of joint space distances at the distal interphalangeal articulation (JSD-DIP) of the second to the fifth finger using computer-aided joint space analysis (CAJSA).


RESULTS
Data showed a notable age-related decrease of CAJSA parameters, and an accentuated age-related joint space narrowing in women. Males showed a significantly wider JSD-DIP (+ 16.7%) compared to the female cohort for all age groups. Both men and women revealed an accentuated decrease of JSD-DIP (total) in the age group from 10 to 15 years (for men -10.5% and for women -17.6%). After the age of 21 years a continuous decline of the JSD-DIP (total) is observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data present gender-specific and age-related normative reference data for computer-aided joint space analysis, which provide a valid and reliable differentiation between disease-related joint space narrowing and age-related joint space narrowing, particularly in patients with osteoarthritis of the fingers.
Pfeil
Alexander
A
Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany. alexander.pfeil@med.uni-jena.de
Böttcher
Joachim
J
Schäfer
Max L
ML
Seidl
Bettina E
BE
Schmidt
Mirco
M
Petrovitch
Alexander
A
Heyne
Jens-Peter
JP
Lehmann
Gabriele
G
Oelzner
Peter
P
Hein
Gert
G
Wolf
Gunter
G
Kaiser
Werner A
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008662:Metacarpophalangeal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult