title: [Comparison of inter- and intra-observer reliability between GATA and SMU classification systems for spinal tuberculosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the GATA and SMU classification systems for spinal tuberculosis and assess the clinical value of SMU classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients with spinal tuberculosis treated in our hospital from January 2004 to December 2011 were randomly selected for analysis, including 54 males and 46 females with a mean age of 45 years (range, 16-68 years). All the patients had X-ray, CT and MRI examinations. Five observers experienced in spinal tuberculosis independently assigned the classification using the GATA and SMU classification systems, and the assignment was repeated 3 months later to test its reproducibility. Kappa value was used to determine the intra- and inter-observer reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For GATA and SMU classification systems, the inter-observer percentage of agreement averaged (59.9∓4.84)% (κ=0.412∓0.058) and (81.6∓6.06)% (κ=0.753∓0.068), and the intra-observer percentage of agreement was (75.6∓5.27)% (κ=0.624∓0.078) and (89.8∓2.28)% (κ=0.862∓0.037), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SMU classification system of spinal tuberculosis has a higher inter-observer and intra-observer reliability than the GATA classification system, but its clinical value needs to be further tested in future clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Foshan Hospital of TCM, Foshan 528000, China.E-mail: spine_fzq1978@126.com.
authors.forename: Zhongquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Zhenglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Longyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult