title: Interobserver reliability of the radiographic assessment of cement fixation in total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of a modified quantitative Barrack Cement grading in primary THA. Previous studies demonstrated both poor intraobserver and interobserver reliability which may be due to the qualitative nature of the scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interobserver reliability of the Barrack Cement Grading System in its original format and then in combination with a quantitative measurement of implant/cement lengths was evaluated on 50 immediate post-operative radiographs of primary cemented arthroplasties. Intraobserver reliability was also assessed on a sub-sample of radiographs. Three evaluators with different skill levels and specialty participated: an arthroplasty surgeon, an orthopaedic resident and a radiologist. Reliability was measured using a weighted kappa coefficient for paired comparisons among the evaluators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interobserver reliability was poor (κ < 0.10) for all pairings of the Barrack System. The modified quantitative system achieved slight (κ < 0.20) to poor reliability. Intraobserver reliability was dependent on the skill and specialty of the evaluator with maximal values achieved for the experienced arthroplasty surgeon using the modified quantitative system (κ = 0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the modified scale may improve the reliability of ratings when used by individual experienced arthroplasty surgeons.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 7805, Riyadh, 11472, Saudi Arabia, ahaideb@gmail.com.
authors: Abdulaziz
authors: A
authors: Al-Ahaideb
authors: S W
authors: SW
authors: Muir
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Huckell
authors: Khalid A
authors: KA
authors: Alsaleh
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Johnson
authors: D W C
authors: DW
authors: Johnston
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Beaupre
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000592:standards*; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements