Assessing the agreement between specialists in ultrasound diagnostics of degenerative changes in the L5-S1 intervertebral disc

Abstract

The article provides a detailed description of the application of techniques ofultrasound diagnostics of the spine using the L5-S1 intervertebral disc as an example. An assessment was made of the reproducibility and reliable determination of degenerative signs of the structure of the disc four indicators (heterogeneity of the nucleus pulposus, thinning of the fibrous ring, decrease in the height of the intervertebral disc, rupture/damage/"fissure" of the fibrous ring) based on the agreement of ultrasound diagnostic doctors and the application of statistical calculations using the κ criterion (Cohen's kappa).