Validation of Relative Motion Measurement Method of Lateral Compression Pelvic Fractures During Examination Under Anesthesia

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if the relative distance between the acetabular teardrops on unstressed and lateral compressive stress examination under anesthesia (EUA) pelvic fluoroscopic images is reproducible between independent reviewers.

Design: Retrospective database review.

Setting: Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/intervention: Fifty-eight patients with a lateral compression type 1 pelvic ring injury who underwent EUA.

Main outcome measure: Validation of EUA objective measurements between blinded, independent reviewers using interclass and intraclass correlation coefficients.

Results: There was excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability between all reviewers. Values for each intraclass correlation coefficients (including 95% confidence intervals) were between 0.96 (0.95-0.098) and 0.99 (0.99-0.99) for all measurements. P values were <0.0001 for all measured parameters.

Conclusions: The relative change in distance between the acetabular tear drops during lateral compressive EUA of lateral compression type 1 pelvic injuries is reliable between independent reviewers. This allows for accurate, objective measurement of pelvic motion independent of patient size or body habitus.

Level of evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.