title: Cervical degenerative index: a new quantitative radiographic scoring system for cervical spondylosis with interobserver and intraobserver reliability testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lack of a widely available scoring system for cervical degenerative spondylosis encouraged the authors to establish and validate a systematic quantitative radiographic index.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included intraobserver and interobserver reliability testing among three reviewers with different years of experience. Each observer independently scored four cervical radiographs of 48 patients at separate intervals, and statistical analysis of the grading was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was high intraobserver and interobserver reliability between the two experienced observers. There was fair reliability between the less experienced observer and the more experienced observers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cervical degenerative index appears to be a reliable and reproducible radiographic assessment of cervical spondylosis. The index will have direct applicability for longitudinal study of cervical spondylosis and may be clinically relevant as well.
authors.affiliation: Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA, eofiram@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elisha
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ofiram
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schwender
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Perra
authors.forename: Ensor E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Transfeldt
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wroblewski