COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS OF THORACOLUMBAR SPINE FRACTURES

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility and the interobserver coefficient of concordance between the AO/Magerl and AOSpine classifications for thoracolumbar spine fractures. Methods: Retrospective study of radiographic data analysis. Data were collected from 31 radiographic studies of patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture and distributed to a team involving spinal surgeons and residents. The fractures were classified according to the AO/Magerl and AOSpine classifications. Statistical analysis was performed using the Cohen Kappa test to assess the coefficient of concordance. Results: The Kappa value for interobserver concordance of AO/Magerl classification was κ = 0.70 and standard deviation was 0.16. For the AOSpine classification, we observed κ = 0.76, both with significance level α = 0.05 and P<0.001. Conclusions: We conclude that the interobserver concordance of the new AOSpine classification is similar to the AO/Magerl classification. This conclusion reinforces the reproducibility of the new AOSpine classification. Level of evidence: IV,Type of Study: Case series.