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Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tochigi, Y; Suh, J-S; Amendola, A; Saltzman, CL
Published in: Foot Ankle Int
February 2006

BACKGROUND: In ankles with end-stage osteoarthritis or after total ankle replacement (TAR), radiographic landmarks based on joint surface morphology usually are obscured and inadequate for measurement. Two methods for quantifying anteroposterior tibial-talar alignment without relying on those landmarks were identified in a corollary cadaver-based study. This study aimed to verify reliability and validity of those candidate measures. METHODS: On clinical radiographs of 33 nonarthritic and 35 arthritic ankles, the anteroposterior tibial-talar alignment was quantified by the two methods; the tibial-axis-to-talus ratio (T-T ratio: the ratio into which the midlongitudinal axis of the tibial shaft divides the longitudinal talar length) and the posterior-tibial-line-to-talus ratio (P-T ratio: a similar ratio, but using the posterior longitudinal line along the tibial shaft). Two observers performed every measurement twice to evaluate intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the candidate measures. For nonarthritic ankles, the anteroposterior tibial-talar alignment was further determined by a control measure that directly quantified orientation of the talar dome relative to the tibial shaft. Correlation of the T-T and P-T ratios with the control measure was then evaluated for validity. RESULTS: Measurement of the T-T ratio with arthritic ankles was highly reproducible with the coefficients of determination (R(2)) greater than 0.95, for either interobserver or intraobserver. Correlation between this measure and the control measure was supported (R(2) = 0.60, p < 0.0001). Reliability of the P-T ratio also was strong (R(2) > 0.91), although both reliability and validity of this measure were relatively inferior to the T-T ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The T-T ratio reliably and validly described the anteroposterior tibial-talar alignment on clinical radiographs, regardless of the condition of ankle joint surface. This measure appears to be a reliable radiographic measure for determining the magnitude of anteroposterior talar subluxation in ankles with articular degeneration or after TAR and can facilitate clinical investigations.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Foot Ankle Int

DOI

ISSN

1071-1007

Publication Date

February 2006

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

88 / 92

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tibia
  • Talus
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Orthopedics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Arthrography
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Tochigi, Y., Suh, J.-S., Amendola, A., & Saltzman, C. L. (2006). Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures. Foot Ankle Int, 27(2), 88–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/107110070602700203
Tochigi, Yuki, Jin-Soo Suh, Annunziato Amendola, and Charles L. Saltzman. “Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures.Foot Ankle Int 27, no. 2 (February 2006): 88–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/107110070602700203.
Tochigi Y, Suh J-S, Amendola A, Saltzman CL. Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures. Foot Ankle Int. 2006 Feb;27(2):88–92.
Tochigi, Yuki, et al. “Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures.Foot Ankle Int, vol. 27, no. 2, Feb. 2006, pp. 88–92. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/107110070602700203.
Tochigi Y, Suh J-S, Amendola A, Saltzman CL. Ankle alignment on lateral radiographs. Part 2: reliability and validity of measures. Foot Ankle Int. 2006 Feb;27(2):88–92.
Journal cover image

Published In

Foot Ankle Int

DOI

ISSN

1071-1007

Publication Date

February 2006

Volume

27

Issue

2

Start / End Page

88 / 92

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tibia
  • Talus
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Orthopedics
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Arthrography