Accuracy of internet images of glenoid labral injuries

Abstract

The internet is a convenient source of health information used widely by patients and doctors. Previous studies have found that the written information provided was often inaccurate. There is no literature regarding the accuracy of medical images on the internet. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of internet images of injuries to the glenoid labrum following shoulder dislocation. The Google and Bing search engines were used to find images of Bankart, Perthes and anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion (ALPSA) lesions. Three independent reviewers assessed the accuracy of image labelling. Of images labelled 'Bankart lesion', 30% (9/30) were incorrect while 'Perthes lesion' images were incorrect in 15% of cases (9/60) and 4% of 'ALPSA lesion' images were incorrect (2/46). There was good interobserver reliability (kappa = 0.81). Labelling accuracy was better on educational sites than on commercial sites (6% vs 25% inaccurate, p=0.0013). Caution is recommended when interpreting non-peer reviewed images on the internet.