Validity of sagittal thoracolumbar curvature measurement using a non-radiographic surface topography method

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the criterion validity of sagittal thoracolumbar spine measurement using a surface topography method in a clinical population against the gold standard and to estimate concurrent validity against two non-radiographic clinical tools. Methods: In this cross-sectional validity study, thoracolumbar curvature was measured in adults with spinal conditions recruited from a specialist orthopaedic hospital. A surface topography method using a Kinect sensor was compared to three other measurement methods: spinal radiograph (gold standard), flexicurve and digital inclinometer. Correlation coefficients and agreement between the measurement tools were analysed. Results: Twenty-nine participants (79% female) were included in criterion validity analyses and 38 (76% female) in concurrent validity analyses. The surface topography method was moderately correlated with the radiograph (r =.70, p