Navigation system for robot-assisted intra-articular lower-limb fracture surgery

Giulio Dagnino, Ioannis Georgilas, Paul Köhler, Samir Morad, Roger Atkins, Sanja Dogramadzi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Purpose: In the surgical treatment for lower-leg intra-articular fractures, the fragments have to be positioned and aligned to reconstruct the fractured bone as precisely as possible, to allow the joint to function correctly again. Standard procedures use 2D radiographs to estimate the desired reduction position of bone fragments. However, optimal correction in a 3D space requires 3D imaging. This paper introduces a new navigation system that uses pre-operative planning based on 3D CT data and intra-operative 3D guidance to virtually reduce lower-limb intra-articular fractures. Physical reduction in the fractures is then performed by our robotic system based on the virtual reduction. Methods: 3D models of bone fragments are segmented from CT scan. Fragments are pre-operatively visualized on the screen and virtually manipulated by the surgeon through a dedicated GUI to achieve the virtual reduction in the fracture. Intra-operatively, the actual position of the bone fragments is provided by an optical tracker enabling real-time 3D guidance. The motion commands for the robot connected to the bone fragment are generated, and the fracture physically reduced based on the surgeon’s virtual reduction. To test the system, four femur models were fractured to obtain four different distal femur fracture types. Each one of them was subsequently reduced 20 times by a surgeon using our system. Results: The navigation system allowed an orthopaedic surgeon to virtually reduce the fracture with a maximum residual positioning error of 0.95±0.3mm (translational) and 1. 4 ± 0. 5 (rotational). Correspondent physical reductions resulted in an accuracy of 1.03 ± 0.2 mm and 1. 56 ± 0. 1 , when the robot reduced the fracture. Conclusions: Experimental outcome demonstrates the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed navigation system, presenting a fracture reduction accuracy of about 1 mm and 1. 5 , and meeting the clinical requirements for distal femur fracture reduction procedures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1831-1843
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery
Volume11
Issue number10
Early online date28 May 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • 3D medical imaging
  • Computer-assisted surgery
  • Fracture reduction planning
  • Fracture surgery
  • Image guidance
  • Medical robotics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Health Informatics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Navigation system for robot-assisted intra-articular lower-limb fracture surgery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this