Barzilai University Medical Center

32 Research Day 2020 Barzilai University Medical Center 18 UNCOVERTEBRAL (LUSCHKA) JOINTS DEGENERATIVE CHANGES: PREVALENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF A GRADING SCALE Leonid Kalichman 1 , Michal Tzelnik 1 , Vladimir Stoychev 1 , Azaria Simonovich 2 1 Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Studies, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. 2 Department of Radiology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. Background The uncovertebral articulations are common sites for osteoarthritic changes. The resent studies demonstrated that the uncovertebral articulation receives nerve fibers from the somatic and autonomic nervous system and that the articulation is a potential pain generator in the cervical spine. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a reading protocol for evaluating the uncovertebral joint on CT and to establish the intra-tester reliability of studied parameters. Objectives To develop a reading protocol for evaluating uncovertebral joints degenerative features and to evaluate the inter-tester reliability of readings. Methods Cross-sectional analytic and reliability study was performed in the Department of Radiology, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. 98 males and 122 females, referred for CT examinations due to cervical complaints. Three researchers read one batch of CTs and developed a reading protocol. Then, we developed a semi-quantitative grading scale of uncovertebral joint degenerative changes. Using the developed scale, the reader (VS) read and re-read 20 CTs two weeks apart, blinded to the identity of the patient in order to assess the intra-rater reliability. Results The inter- tester agreement ranged from substantial in Overall grade (k – 0.616), Joint space narrowing (k – 0.757), Osteophyte grade (k – 0.748), Subchondral cyst (k – 0.716), Hypertrophy (k – 0.728), Vacuum Phenomenon (k – 0.712), to moderate (k – 0.544) in Subchondral sclerosis and fair in Cortical erosion (k – 0.36). We found 77.6% of evaluated UVJ had some degenerative changes. The degenerative changes in C3 and C6 showed a significant difference with all other levels. There was a good statistically significant positive correlation between age and overall grade sum (r=0.632, p<0.001). Conclusions The grading scale for evaluating of Uncovertebral joint on CT that we developed, presents good inter- tester reliability. Osteoarthritic changes in the Uncovertebral joint are very common. They are symmetric, not sex-dependent, accumulate with an age and are different at different levels.