Reliability of grading scales for individual radiographic features of osteoarthritis of the knee. The Baltimore longitudinal study of aging atlas of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: The authors present an atlas of individual radiographic features of osteoarthritis of the knee and evaluate the inter- and intra-reader reliability of trained readers using this atlas.

Methods: Four trained readers graded 30 standing anterior-posterior knee radiographs for eight selected features of osteoarthritis (medial and lateral osteophytes, joint space narrowing, and sclerosis; osteophytes of the tibial spines and chondrocalcinosis) as well as the Kellgren-Lawrence global scale. Inter- and intra-reader reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients.

Results: For all features except sclerosis and osteophytes of the tibial spines, inter-reader reliability ranged from 0.63 to 0.83, whereas intra-reader reliability ranged from 0.82 to 0.95.

Conclusion: Using this atlas, trained readers are reliable in measuring the presence and severity of individual radiographic features of osteoarthritis of the knee. This atlas should be useful in clinical and epidemiologic studies of osteoarthritis of the knee.