ISAKOS classification of meniscal tears. Intra and interobserver reliability.

Abstract

Objectives:To analyze the intra and interobserverreliability of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) classification of meniscal tears. Methods: Thearthroscopic classification of meniscal lesions created by the ISAKOS was used. Thirty one arthroscopic videos, made between June and December 2013,with different meniscal tear characteristics were analyzedby three orthopedic surgeons (two specialists in knee surgery and a fellowship), twice at an interval of 30 days. The Kappa Coefficients (k) was used to assess the intraobserver reliability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for interobserverreliability. Results:The averageintraobserver reliability was for the first observer 51%, the second 65% and the third 58%, reaching moderate agreement according to the Kappa coefficient used by Landis and Koch. Regarding interobserver reliability, good agreement (ICC = 0.71) was obtained as the intraclass correlation coefficient. The whole results were significantlystatical (p <0.05). Conclusion:While this classification provides a detailed description of meniscal lesions, the intraobserver reliability did not reach the optimum values obtained despite having on average a moderate agreement. However interobserver reliability results showed on average 70% of agreement (good agreement), which can affirm that the agreement and interobserver reliability is acceptable.