[Evaluation of alignment on knees through a software]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Medical Imaging Analysis
• Biomechanical Engineering

Context:

• Musculoskeletal diseases frequently cause postural deformities like genu varo (bow legs) and genu valgo (knock knees).
• Accurate diagnosis and monitoring are crucial due to the progressive nature of these conditions and their impact on patient quality of life.
• Radiography is the current gold standard for measuring the mechanical axis, but advanced diagnostic tools are needed.

Purpose:

• To evaluate a novel software program designed for measuring the mechanical axis in patients with genu varo and genu valgo.
• To assess the software's diagnostic accuracy compared to radiography (the gold standard).
• To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the software-based diagnostic test.

Summary:

• The study compared mechanical axis measurements from radiography and a digital photograph processing software in 100 patients.
• The software demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for both genu varo and genu valgo in both right and left knees.
• Sensitivity ranged from 0.78 to 0.88, and specificity from 0.87 to 0.98, with strong interobserver agreement (Kappa values 0.8-0.9).

Impact:

• The evaluated software provides a safe, low-cost, and effective diagnostic method for genu varo and genu valgo.
• This tool can improve the diagnosis and management of knee alignment disorders, potentially enhancing patient outcomes.
• The findings support the integration of digital imaging software into routine orthopedic diagnostics.