Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Understanding current UK practice for the incidental identification of vertebral fragility fractures from CT scans: an expert elicitation study

Luetchens, S; Cootes, TF; Payne, K; Dalal, G; Bromiley, PA; Kariki, E

Understanding current UK practice for the incidental identification of vertebral fragility fractures from CT scans: an expert elicitation study Thumbnail


Authors

S Luetchens

TF Cootes

K Payne

G Dalal

PA Bromiley

E Kariki



Abstract

Background There is an emerging interest in using automated approaches to enable the incidental identifcation of vertebral
fragility fractures (VFFs) on existing medical images visualising the spine.
Aim To quantify values, and the degree of uncertainty associated with them, for the incidental identifcation of VFFs from
computed tomography (CT) scans in current practice.
Methods An expert elicitation exercise was conducted to generate point estimates and measures of uncertainty for four values
representing the probability of: VFF being correctly reported by the radiologist; the absence of VFF being correctly assessed
by the radiologist; being referred for management when a VFF is identifed; having a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
(DXA) scan after general practitioner (GP) referral. Data from a sample of seven experts in the diagnosis and management
of people with VFFs were pooled using mathematical aggregation.
Results The estimated mean values for each probability parameter were: VFF being correctly reported by the radiolo?gist=0.25 (standard deviation (SD): 0.21); absence of VFF being correctly assessed by the radiologist=0.89 (0.10); being
referred for management when a VFF is identifed by the radiologist=0.15 (0.12); having a DXA scan after GP referral=0.66
(0.28).
Discussion These estimates could be used to facilitate the subsequent early economic evaluation of potential new approaches
to improve the health outcomes of people with VFFs.
Conclusion In the absence of epidemiological studies, this study produced point estimates and measures of uncertainty for
key parameters needed to describe current pathways for the incidental diagnosis of VFFs

Acceptance Date Mar 21, 2022
Publication Date Aug 1, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Print ISSN 1594-0667
Publisher Springer Verlag
Pages 1909 - 1918
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-022-02124-w
Keywords Incidental identifcation; Expert elicitation; Vertebral fragility fractures; Osteoporosis; Artifcial intelligence;
Diagnosis; Prevention; CT; Radiological
Publisher URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-022-02124-w

Files




Downloadable Citations