title: A reliability study of measurement tools available on standard picture archiving and communication system workstations for the evaluation of hip radiographs following arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conventional radiography is the primary imaging tool for routine follow-up of total hip replacements, but the reliability of this method has been questioned. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of commonly used measurements of the position of hip prostheses on postoperative radiographs with use of tools available on all standard picture archiving and communication system workstations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty anteroposterior pelvic and lateral hip radiographs that were made after a unilateral total hip arthroplasty were included in this study. Acetabular inclination, lateral offset, lower-limb length, center of rotation, and femoral stem angle were independently assessed by two observers. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for each measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated excellent reliability for acetabular angle (r = 0.95), lower-limb length (r = 0.91), and lateral offset (r = 0.95) measurements and good reliability for center of rotation (r = 0.73) and lateral femoral stem angle (r = 0.68) measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The position of total hip replacements can be reliably assessed with use of simple electronic tools and standard radiology workstations.
authors.affiliation: Norwich Radiology Academy, Cotman Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UB, United Kingdom. sanjay25anusha@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sanjay R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Andoni P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Toms
authors.forename: Javed M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wimhurst
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D011873:Radiology Information Systems