Computer tomography prototyping and virtual procedure simulation in difficult cases of hip replacement surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Total hip replacement (THR) is a common procedure, but surgical approach and implant placement errors can lead to complications.
• Difficult THR cases with joint aberrations and absent anatomical landmarks pose significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel approach for planning, simulating, and assisting total hip replacement (THR) in complex cases.
• To assess the utility of 3-D virtual models and rapid prototyping in improving surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Generation of 3-D virtual models from patient CT images.
• Creation of 3-D solid models using rapid prototyping (RP).
• Virtual simulation of the surgical procedure and application in 8 THR cases.

Main Results:

• Surgeons found the 3-D models highly useful for preoperative planning in all cases.
• Significant improvement in clinical outcomes, with an average Harris Hip Score increase of 42.5 points.
• Average prototyping time was 7.3 hours, and average surgery time was 65 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Meticulous preoperative planning is crucial for THR, especially in cases with significant joint deviation.
• CT scans and 3-D reconstruction with solid models are valuable tools for complex total hip replacements.
• The proposed 3-D approach enhances planning and execution, leading to better patient results.