NAVICULAR SYNDROME - PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF RADIOGRAPHIC SCORING

The purpose of this preliminary study was to record observer agreement in the assessment of navicular bone radiographs. This was performed t o assess whether a navicular lesion scoring system would augment tests currently available. Radiographs from both normal horses and horses a ffected with navicular disease were used in the study. The dorsoproxim al-palmarodistal oblique (65 degrees) view of both forefeet of 54 indi viduals were assessed in an independent and unprejudiced manner by two observers, six months apart. The total synovial fossae score and the total number of lesions seen were recorded and intra-class correlation coefficients determined. From this the level of intraobserver and int er-observer agreement was determined. Substantial intra-observer agree ment (ICC 0.61-0.80) for total synovial fossae score and total number of lesions was attained by one observer (No.2) whilst the other (No.1) attained only poor to moderate agreement (ICC 0.30-0.60). The interob server agreement ranged from moderate to substantial. In view of the i nconsistency seen, in this preliminary evaluation, it is our belief th at a navicular scoring system would not augment currently available di agnostic tests.