Reliability and validity of sub-axial injury classification in clinical application

马 君(Ma Jun，Dept Orthop，Changzheng Hosp，2nd Mil Med Univ，Shanghai 200003)…∥Chin J Orthop Trauma.－2011，13(2).－106～109

Reliability and validity of sub-axial injury classification in clinical application

马 君(Ma Jun，Dept Orthop，Changzheng Hosp，2nd Mil Med Univ，Shanghai 200003)…∥Chin J Orthop Trauma.－2011，13(2).－106～109

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical reliability and validity of the sub-axial injury classification(SLIC)system proposed by the Spine Trauma Study Group(STSG)in 2007.MethodsThirty cases of cervical injury were randomly chosen from the patients treated in our department from June 2006 to June 2009.Eight spine surgeons scored them according to the SLIC system respectively.Interclass correlation coefficient(ICC)was used to assess the reliability of SLIC，and Cohen’s Kappa was employed to evaluate its validity.ResultsGood inter-observer agreement was demonstrated in injury morphology(CC=0.68)，and moderate inter-observer agreement in disco-ligamentous complex(DLC)(ICC=0.51).The inter-observer evaluation of neurologic status proved to be the most reliable with an ICC of 0.83，and the interobserver agreement in total SLIC score was excellent with an ICC of 0.78.The SLIC score algorithms agreed with the actual treatments in 86.7%of cases(Kappa=0.706).The agreement rose to 92.9% (Kappa=0.837)，if the cases for which a definitive recommendation was not made(average SLIC score，3 to 5)were excluded.ConclusionSLIC is a simple，reliable，and effective adjunct in clinical decision-making for the treatment of lower cervical spine injuries.10 refs，2 figs.2 tabs.

(Authors)