Computer-assisted diagnosis of osteoartrithis on hip radiographs

Abstract

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) can be highly disabling and eventually may necessitate total replacement of the joint. Studies with computer-based analysis of the hip OA may give new insight both in imaging and clinical evaluation of the disease. In this study, new acetabular angle measurement methods of femoral head-neck-shaft angle (CCD), center-edge angle (CE) and acetabular depth-to-width ratio (ADR) are reconstructed via a computer based analysis technique for robust detection of OA on anteroposterior (AP) hip radiographs. The evaluation and validation of this computer-assisted system is performed by comparing these new automated methods with those of traditional manual measurement methods done by one orthopaedist and one radiologist. The 50 adult hip AP radiographs with OA are used and overall measurements are produced for both sides of the hip on radiographs separately. The mean average difference between these two measurement methods for CCD angle is found 1 degrees +/- 1,2 degrees, for CE angle 1 degrees +/- 1,5 degrees and for ADR ratio 1 +/- 1,4 respectively. The results show that this new automated angle and ratio measurement system can be found feasible and user friendly by clinicians owing to the similarity between the comparative results of two measurement methods statistically.