Computer assessment of vertebral deformity (report 1)

We used a computer to assess the degrees and types of the vertebral deformity on simple lateral X-ray pictures of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. We studied X-ray pictures of 120 females who were diagnosed as having postmenopausal or senile osteoporosis. The vertebral deformities were classified into five types; N: normal; I: vertex vertebra; II: fish vertebra; III: vertebra plana; IV: reverse vertex vertebra. Also, visual assessment of X-ray pictures was carried out by physicians. 3,018 of a total of 3,419 vertebral bodies were judged as normal (N) by physicians. 2,904 of these 3,018 vertebral bodies were judged normal (N) by our computer method. The rate of conformity was 96.22%. For vertex vertebra (I), fish vertebra (II) and vertebra plana (III), the rate of conformity the was 84.64%, 90.48% and 60.56% respectively. As a judgement of the presence/absence of the vertebral deformity, the computer method indicated that 114 of 3,018 vertebral bodies judged to be normal (N) by physicians were more or less deformed.