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Augmented reality guided osteotomy in hallux Valgus correction
Arnd Fredrik Viehöfer1, Stephan Hermann Wirth2,3, Stefan Michael Zimmermann2
1Department of Orthopaedics, Balgrist University Hospital, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zürich, Switzerland. arnd.viehoefer@balgrist.ch.
Background:
An optimal osteotomy angle avoids shortening of the first metatarsal bone after hallux valgus surgery and therefore reduces the risk of transfer-metatarsalgia. The purpose of the present ex-vivo study was to investigate whether augmented reality (AR) would improve accuracy of the distal osteotomy during hallux valgus surgery.
Methods:
Distal osteotomies of the first metatarsals were performed on a foot model by two surgeons with different levels of surgical experience each with (AR, n = 15 × 2) or without (controls, n = 15 × 2) overlay of a hologram depicting an angle of osteotomy perpendicular to the second metatarsal. Subsequently, the deviation of the osteotomy angle in the transverse plane was analyzed.
Results:
Overall, AR decreased the extent of deviation and the AR guided osteotomies were more accurate (4.9 ± 4.2°) compared to the freehand cuts (6.7 ± 6.1°) by tendency (p = 0.2). However, while the inexperienced surgeon performed more accurate osteotomies with AR with a mean angle of 6.4 ± 3.5° compared to freehand 10.5 ± 5.5° (p = 0.02), no significant difference was noticed for the experienced surgeon with an osteotomy angle of around 3° in both cases.
Conclusion:
This pilot-study suggests that AR guided osteotomies can potentially improve accuracy during hallux valgus correction, particularly for less experienced surgeons.
