Intra-operative fiducial-based CT/fluoroscope image registration framework for image-guided robot-assisted joint fracture surgery

Giulio Dagnino, Ioannis Georgilas, Samir Morad, Peter Gibbons, Payam Tarassoli, Roger Atkins, Sanja Dogramadzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

PURPOSE: Joint fractures must be accurately reduced minimising soft tissue damages to avoid negative surgical outcomes. To this regard, we have developed the RAFS surgical system, which allows the percutaneous reduction of intra-articular fractures and provides intra-operative real-time 3D image guidance to the surgeon. Earlier experiments showed the effectiveness of the RAFS system on phantoms, but also key issues which precluded its use in a clinical application. This work proposes a redesign of the RAFS's navigation system overcoming the earlier version's issues, aiming to move the RAFS system into a surgical environment.

METHODS: The navigation system is improved through an image registration framework allowing the intra-operative registration between pre-operative CT images and intra-operative fluoroscopic images of a fractured bone using a custom-made fiducial marker. The objective of the registration is to estimate the relative pose between a bone fragment and an orthopaedic manipulation pin inserted into it intra-operatively. The actual pose of the bone fragment can be updated in real time using an optical tracker, enabling the image guidance.

RESULTS: Experiments on phantom and cadavers demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the registration framework, showing a reduction accuracy (sTRE) of about [Formula: see text] (phantom) and [Formula: see text] (cadavers). Four distal femur fractures were successfully reduced in cadaveric specimens using the improved navigation system and the RAFS system following the new clinical workflow (reduction error [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text].

CONCLUSION: Experiments showed the feasibility of the image registration framework. It was successfully integrated into the navigation system, allowing the use of the RAFS system in a realistic surgical application.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1383-1397
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery
Volume12
Issue number8
Early online date4 May 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Aug 2017

Keywords

  • Cadaver
  • Femoral Fractures/surgery
  • Fiducial Markers
  • Fluoroscopy/methods
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods
  • Intra-Articular Fractures/surgery
  • Open Fracture Reduction/methods
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Health Informatics

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