Tijmen Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hijzelaar

Mr. Tijmen Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hijzelaar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 March 2026 in Bioengineering
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ESEsther van Santbrink
Esther van Santbrink
THTijmen Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hijzelaar
Tijmen Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hijzelaar
VSValérie N. E. Schuermans
Valérie N. E. Schuermans
ASAnouk Y.J.M. Smeets
Anouk Y.J.M. Smeets
HSHenk Van Santbrink
Henk Van Santbrink
TBToon Boselie
Toon Boselie
Background: Qualitative motion analysis revealed that the cervical spine moves according to a consistent pattern. Current data analysis methods are limited by the extensive time required to process the retrieved data. A previous study demonstrated the feasibility of using a deep-learning model to automate analysis methods. However, segmentation accuracy needed to be improved. This study aims to improve segmentation model performance to enable reliable motion analysis. Methods: Four nnU-Net configurations were tested: baseline (A), pre-trained (B), with histogram equalization (C), and pre-trained with histogram equalization (D). Segmentation performance was evaluated using Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC), Intersection over Union (IoU) and 95th percentile Hausdorff Distance (HD95). Vertebral rotation was estimated using mean shapes. Reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: Across all models, mean DSC ranged from 0.67 to 0.92, mean IoU from 0.55 to 0.85, and mean HD95 from 2.35 to 19.67 mm. After sensitivity analysis for low segmental range of motion (sROM) and low-quality recordings, the mean ICC ranged from 0.617 to 0.837 for model A, from 0.609 to 0.780 for model B, from 0.409 to 0.689 for model C, and from 0.480 to 0.835 for model D. Conclusions: This study shows that Models A and B can accurately analyze cervical motion patterns. High image contrast and an adequate sROM are essential for robust model performance. It also marks an important step toward automated qualitative motion analysis, increasing the accessibility of motion pattern evaluation.