Reproducibility analysis of the stability and treatment of vertebral metastatic lesions

Análise da reprodutibilidade da estabilidade e do tratamento de lesões metastáticas vertebrais

Análisis de la reproductibilidad de la estabilidad y del tratamiento de lesiones metastáticas vertebrales

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the reproducibility among spine surgeons in defining the treatment of vertebral metastatic lesions, taking into account the mechanical stability of injuries.

METHODS:

Twenty cases of isolated vertebral metastatic lesions were presented to ten experts. Their opinion was then asked about the stability of the lesion, as well as their treatment option.

RESULTS:

The interobserver Kappa coefficient obtained both for stability analysis as to the decision of the treatment was poor (0.334 and 0.248, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Poor interobserver reproducibility was observed in deciding the treatment of vertebral metastatic lesions when considering the stability of the lesions.

Spine/surgery; Neoplasm metastasis; Instability indexes; Reproducibility of results