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. 2014 Jul 25:9:10.
doi: 10.1186/1748-7161-9-10. eCollection 2014.

Evaluation of an apparatus to be combined with a smartphone for the early detection of spinal deformities

Mark Driscoll  1 , Chanel Fortier-Tougas  2 , Hubert Labelle  1 , Stefan Parent  1 , Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of an apparatus to be combined with a smartphone for the early detection of spinal deformities

Mark Driscoll et al. Scoliosis. .

Abstract

Background: Mobile smartphones are equipped with inclinometers enabling them to acquire angular clinical measures. The Scolioscreen has been developed in conjunction with a smartphone APP to enable the measure of the angle of trunk inclination (ATI) thus offering a convenient and reliable means to measure and screen for spinal deformities. The objective was to compare the reliability and accuracy of a Scolioscreen-smartphone combination, a smartphone alone, and a Scoliometer, for measuring the angle of trunk inclination in spinal deformities under blinded conditions for intra- and inter-observer analyses.

Methods: A cohort of 39 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were recruited. Each had maximum ATI measured by 3 observers: attending spine surgeon, nurse, and parent presenting with patient. Two series of measurements were performed by each observer using Scolioscreen-smartphone, smartphone alone and Scoliometer. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) from two-way mixed model based on absolute agreement were used to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability as well as consistency between measurement techniques.

Results: Intra- and inter-observer reliability for measuring maximum ATI was 0.94-0.89 with Scolioscreen-smartphone, decreased to 0.89-0.75 for smartphone alone, and was 0.95- 0.89 for Scoliometer. Considering Scoliometer measurement taken by surgeon the gold standard, there was excellent consistency with measurements from Scolioscreen-smartphone taken by surgeon (ICC = 0.99), nurse (ICC = 0.95), and parent (ICC = 0.91). Conversely, consistency decreased when surgeon (ICC = 0.86), nurse (ICC = 0.86) and parent (ICC = 0.85) used smartphone alone.

Conclusion: Study shows the Scolioscreen-smartphone to overcome limitations associated with ATI measurements using smartphones alone. The Scolioscreen-smartphone provides a reliability and consistency similar to the gold standard (use of Scoliometer by spine surgeon) and enables a parent to take reliable measurements on their own thus offering an accessible and convenient tool for all to use.

Keywords: Angle of trunk inclination; Diagnosis; Early detection; Scoliosis; Screening; Smartphone.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Demonstration of the Scolioscreen-smartphone combination positioned on a patients back during an Adams test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Measuring devices analysed and compared.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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