Reassessing vertebral endplate references in parametric spinal analysis: Validation of a centroid-based method for vertebral inclination measurement

Key Points

• The centroid model significantly decreased observer variability in vertebral slope assessment, enhancing measurement accuracy.
• With a focus on spinal analysis, the study identifies the geometric centroid as a superior alternative to the endplate method.
• Employing an observational analysis approach, the study tested different measurement techniques for vertebral inclination.
• The findings support a shift to centroid-based methods, although the S1 endplate remains critical due to unique sacral anatomy.