Auto Strut: a novel smart robotic system for external fixation device for bone deformity correction, a preliminary...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Robotics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Hexapod external fixators are crucial for bone fracture and deformity correction.
• Current methods require manual adjustment of fixator struts, which can be time-consuming and prone to error.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel robotic system, Auto Strut, for automatic adjustment of hexapod external fixator struts.
• To assess the feasibility and precision of automated strut adjustment in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving ten patients with bone deformities treated with the Auto Strut system.
• The system automatically adjusted fixator struts based on a computer-assisted correction plan.
• Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed, with strut readings compared to the treatment plan.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved planned correction goals, with 94% of final strut readings showing 0-1 mm discrepancy, indicating high precision.
• The Auto Strut system demonstrated a low incidence of alarm activation with no device-related adverse events.
• Treatment duration varied, with distraction ranging from 10-90 days and consolidation times from 1-7 months.

Conclusions:

• The Auto Strut system shows promise as a viable alternative to manual strut adjustment in hexapod external fixators.
• Automated adjustment offers significant advantages for patients, caregivers, and surgeons in orthopedic deformity correction.
• Preliminary results suggest high precision and successful clinical application of the robotic system.