TitleEvaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Conventional 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography for Assessing Canine Sacral and Pelvic Fractures by Radiologists, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Veterinary Medical Students.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsStieger-Vanegas SM, Senthirajah SKumar Jami, Nemanic S, Baltzer W, Warnock J, Hollars K, Lee SS, Bobe G
JournalVet Surg
Volume44
Issue6
Pagination694-703
Date Published2015 Aug
ISSN1532-950X
KeywordsAnimals, Cadaver, Dogs, Fractures, Bone, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Orthopedics, Pelvic Bones, Prospective Studies, Reproducibility of Results, Retrospective Studies, Sacrum, Students, Medical, Surgeons, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Veterinary Medicine
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine, using 3 groups of evaluators of varying experience reading orthopedic CT studies, if 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) provides a more accurate and time efficient method for diagnosis of canine sacral and pelvic fractures, and displacements of the sacroiliac and coxofemoral joints compared with 2-dimensional computed tomography (2D-CT).

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and prospective study.

ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 23): 12 dogs with traumatic pelvic fractures, 11 canine cadavers with pelvic trauma induced by a lateral impactor.

METHODS: All dogs had a 2D-CT exam of the pelvis and subsequent 3D-CT reconstructions from the 2D-CT images. Both 2D-CT and 3D-CT studies were anonymized and randomly presented to 2 veterinary radiologists, 2 veterinary orthopedic surgeons, and 2 veterinary medical students. Evaluators classified fractures using a confidence scale and recorded the duration of evaluation for each modality and case.

RESULTS: 3D-CT was a more time-efficient technique for evaluation of traumatic sacral and pelvic injuries compared with 2D-CT in all evaluator groups irrespective of experience level reading orthopedic CT studies. However, for radiologists and surgeons, 2D-CT was the more accurate technique for evaluating sacral and pelvic fractures.

CONCLUSION: 3D-CT improves sacral and pelvic fracture diagnosis when added to 2D-CT; however, 3D-CT has a reduced accuracy for evaluation of sacral and pelvic fractures if used without concurrent evaluation of 2D-CT images.

DOI10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12313.x
Alternate JournalVet Surg
PubMed ID25534364