Three-dimensional morphological characteristics measurement of ankle joint based on computed tomography image...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Radiology
• Medical imaging analysis

Background:

• Ankle radiography lacks precise positioning, limiting quantitative syndesmotic parameter measurement.
• Developing objective criteria for assessing ankle fracture reduction quality is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish scientific and objective evaluation criteria for ankle fracture reduction quality.
• To utilize a 3-D computed tomography (CT) measurement model for accurate and reliable assessment.

Main Methods:

• Collected thin-slice CT images of 100 normal ankle joints (50 male, 50 female).
• Generated 2-D and 3-D ankle images using MPR and SSD.
• Measured bone structure parameters using 3-D topological division and measurement techniques.

Main Results:

• Established mean measurements for key ankle parameters in male and female groups.
• Identified correlations between certain parameters and gender, height, and weight.
• Found no significant correlation between other key parameters (talocrural angle, clear spaces) and demographic factors.

Conclusions:

• The 3-D CT measurement model provides reliable and reproducible data for anatomical reduction standards.
• This data aids in planning injured ankle reduction and secondary surgery after malunion.
• The measurement methods are practical and easy to apply in clinical settings.