Evaluation of scapulothoracic dyskinesis (SD) using EOS biplanar imaging: A new simplified method and feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Medical Imaging
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Scapulothoracic dyskinesis (SD) is a prevalent shoulder disorder affecting scapular positioning and mobility.
• Current clinical and radiological diagnoses for SD are challenging, lacking simple 3D assessment methods.
• Kibler's classification categorizes SD into three distinct patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of low-dose EOS biplanar imaging for assessing scapular positioning in simulated SD conditions.
• To determine the inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of EOS imaging for 3D scapulothoracic measurements.

Main Methods:

• A full-scale scapulothoracic bone model was used, simulating normal and three SD patterns.
• EOS biplanar imaging captured stereoradiographs of the bone model in various positions.
• Seven anatomical landmarks were identified for 3D scapulothoracic measurements, analyzed by two independent observers.

Main Results:

• EOS imaging allowed for feasible landmark identification and scapulothoracic measurements in all simulated conditions.
• High inter- and intra-observer reproducibility (>0.80) was achieved for most parameters.
• Mean observer differences were minimal for angular and distance measurements.

Conclusions:

• EOS biplanar imaging provides a reproducible method for measuring scapular positioning on bone models.
• This simplified approach shows potential as a tool for 3D assessment of scapular positioning.
• Further validation in clinical settings is necessary to confirm its utility for diagnosing scapulothoracic dyskinesis.