Inter- and intra-rater reliability of carpal tunnel volume measurement

ABSTRACT

The reliability of carpal tunnel volume (CTV) measurement has not been previously reported. This study evaluated inter- and intra-rater reliability and assessed the variability of image segmentation and anatomical landmark selection. Analysis was performed by two raters on computed tomography images collected on two cadaveric specimens in neutral wrist posture. The variability of landmark selections was less than 0.3 mm. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for segmentation surpassed 0.88. The carpal tunnel volume calculations had ICC values greater than 0.98. These results suggest carpal tunnel volume can be reliably measured using the methods outlined in this study.

KEYWORDS:

• Carpal tunnel
• volume
• wrist
• CT
• reliability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by DJO Global and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Notes on contributors

Drew A. Anderson

Drew Anderson is a PhD Candidate in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph. He received a BEng in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Guelph. His research interests include biomechanics of the wrist and carpal tunnel.

Mackenzie J. Miller

Mackenzie Miller received a BEng in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Guelph.

Anne M. Agur

Anne Agur, BSc (OT), MSc, PhD, is a Professor in the Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include clinically applied normal vs pathological structure and function of the musculoskeletal system including joints, musculotendinous architecture, innervation patterns and pain-generating mechanisms. She is the current co-editor of “Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy” and a co-author of “Essential Clinical Anatomy” and “Clinically Oriented Anatomy”.

Michele L. Oliver

Michele Oliver, PhD, PEng, is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph. Her research interests include occupational biomechanics of the upper limb.

Karen D. Gordon

Karen Gordon, PhD, PEng, is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph. Her research interests include investigating and modelling joint kinematics and mechanics related to disease and injury.