Osteoarthritis severity of the hip by computer-aided grading of radiographic images

Med Biol Eng Comput. 2006 Sep;44(9):793-803. doi: 10.1007/s11517-006-0096-3. Epub 2006 Aug 15.

Abstract

A computer-aided classification system was developed for the assessment of the severity of hip osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty-four radiographic images of normal and osteoarthritic hips were digitized and enhanced. Employing the Kellgren and Lawrence scale, the hips were grouped by three experienced orthopaedists into three OA-severity categories: Normal, Mild/Moderate and Severe. Utilizing custom-developed software, 64 ROIs corresponding to the radiographic Hip Joint Spaces were manually segmented and novel textural features were generated. These features were used in the design of a two-level classification scheme for characterizing hips as normal or osteoarthritic (1st level) and as of Mild/Moderate or Severe OA (2nd level). At each classification level, an ensemble of three classifiers was implemented. The proposed classification scheme discriminated correctly all normal hips from osteoarthritic hips (100% accuracy), while the discrimination accuracy between Mild/Moderate and Severe osteoarthritic hips was 95.7%. The proposed system could be used as a diagnosis decision-supporting tool.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Algorithms
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods
  • Radiography
  • Severity of Illness Index*