Validation of Relative Motion Measurement Method of Lateral Compression Pelvic Fractures During Exam Under Anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES To determine if the relative distance between the acetabular teardrops on unstressed and lateral compressive stress exam under anesthesia (EUA) pelvic fluoroscopic images is reproduceable between independent reviewers. DESIGN Retrospective database review. SETTING Level-1 trauma center. PATIENTS/INTERVENTION Fifty-eight patients with a lateral compression type-1 (LC1) pelvic ring injury who underwent EUA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Validation of EUA objective measurements between blinded, independent reviewers using inter- and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS There was excellent inter- and intra-observer reliability between all reviewers. Values for each ICC (including 95% confidence intervals) were between 0.96 (0.95-.098) and 0.99 (0.99-0.99) for all measurements. P-values were <0.0001 for all measured parameters CONCLUSIONS:: The relative change in distance between the acetabular tear drops during lateral compressive EUA of LC1 type pelvic injuries is reliable between independent reviewers. This allows for accurate, objective measurement of pelvic motion independent of patient size or body habitus. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.