Inter- and intrarater reliability of osteoarthritis classification at the trapeziometacarpal joint

R M Choa; H P Giele

doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.09.007

Inter- and intrarater reliability of osteoarthritis classification at the trapeziometacarpal joint

J Hand Surg Am. 2015 Jan;40(1):23-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.09.007. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Authors

R M Choa¹, H P Giele²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK. Electronic address: rob_choa@hotmail.com.
² Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK.

PMID: 25443166
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.09.007

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the reliability of the Eaton and Glickel classification for base of thumb osteoarthritis.

Methods: The interrater and intrarater reliability of this classification were assessed by comparing ratings from 6 raters using quadratic weighted kappa scores.

Results: Median inter-rater reliability ranged from kappa of .53 to .54; intrarater reliability ranged from kappa of .60 to .82. Using unweighted kappa interrater reliability was "slightly" reliable, and intrarater reliability was "fairly" reliable. Overall, the value of the intraclass correlation for all 6 raters was .56.

Conclusions: This radiological classification does not describe all stages of carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis accurately enough to permit reliable and consistent communication between clinicians. Therefore we believe it should be used with an understanding of its limitations when communicating disease severity between clinicians or as a tool to assist in clinical decision making.

Keywords: Trapeziometacarpal joint; osteoarthritis; thumb.

MeSH terms

Carpometacarpal Joints / diagnostic imaging*
Humans
Osteoarthritis / classification*
Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging*
Radiography
Reproducibility of Results
Trapezium Bone / diagnostic imaging