Cervical degenerative index: a new quantitative radiographic scoring system for cervical spondylosis with interobserver and intraobserver reliability testing.
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.
Ofiram
Elisha
E
Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA, eofiram@gmail.com.
Garvey
Timothy A
TA
Schwender
James D
JD
Denis
Francis
F
Perra
Joseph H
JH
Transfeldt
Ensor E
EE
Winter
Robert B
RB
Wroblewski
Jill M
JM